ENTEROVIRUS MENINGITIS, ECHO ONLY IF TACHYCARDIC

Neonates who appear septic without bacterial etiology during EV seasons may have EV sepsis and/or meningitis that can be diagnosed rapidly by CSF PCR testing. Cases may be underdiagnosed in the early neonatal period if specific testing is not performed. In the absence of EV PCR testing or cultures, the lack of CSF pleocytosis in the EV-infected neonate may lead physicians to fail to make a correct diagnosis and subsequently not screen for serious complications. Patients should be followed for periventricular leukomalacia, signs of myocarditis, and considered for treatment with large total doses of IVIG