Epidemiology Profile of Viral Meningitis Infections Among Patients in Qatar (2015–2018)

Abstract

Background: Little is known about the etiology of meningitis in the MENA region, including Qatar. Viral agents are considered the major cause for meningitis worldwide. Here, we present primary data about the etiology and clinical and demographic characteristics of viral meningitis (VM) in Qatar between 2015 and 2018.Methods: We retrospectively collected data from Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), which provides about 80% of healthcare services in Qatar. Data were collected for the period between 2015 and 2018. During this time period, 6,705 specimens were collected from patients with suspected meningitis attending HMC and primary healthcare centers. These specimens were tested for a panel of viruses using the “FTD Viral meningitis” multiplex real-time PCR kit that detects Adenovirus (ADV), Human herpesvirus 1&2 (HSV1 and HSV2), Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), Enteroviruses (EV), Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Varicella zoster virus (VZV), and Parechovirus (PV).Results: Only 10.9% (732/6,705) of all suspected meningitis cases were caused by viral agents. 60.9% of the reported cases were males, compared to 39.1% in females. Most of the infections (73.9%) were reported in children younger than 10 years of age. EV were identified as the main causative agent (68.7%), followed by EBV (7.5%) and ADV (6.8%). Other viral agents including VZV, PV, HSV-1, and HSV-2 were also detected with a lower frequency. Confirmed VM were more prevalent among Qatari subjects compared to other nationalities. We observed no specific seasonality of viral agents, but a slight rise was recorded during the spring seasons (March to June). Fever (59.4%, 435/732) and acute central nervous system (CNS) infection (15.6%, 114/732) were initial symptoms of most cases.Conclusion: This is the first report about the molecular epidemiology of VM in Qatar. In line with the international records, our data showed that EV is responsible for 68.7% of Qatar's VM cases. Further studies are needed to genotype and serotype the identified viruses.

Epidemiological characteristics and climatic variability of viral meningitis in Kazakhstan, 2014–2019

“…The World Health Organization identified dengue, viral encephalitis, diarrheal illness, enteric fever, pneumonia, and meningitis as the diseases most vulnerable to climate change, and expected a significant increase in incidence in tropical nations ( 36 ). Our impression of the seasonality of VM is consistent with overall awareness of higher incidence in warm months and in line with previous reports ( 37 , 38 ). As far as we know, this is the first study in Central Asia that focuses on VM epidemiology and investigates the association between disease and three meteorological factors.…”

Etiology, Clinical Phenotypes, Epidemiological Correlates, Laboratory Biomarkers and Diagnostic Challenges of Pediatric Viral Meningitis: Descriptive Review

“…Interestingly, VZV-associated PVM cases were reported even among children who were vaccinated against the disease (115). Epstein Barr virus (EBV) was also documented in many reports as a significant causative agent of PVM (73,116,117). Meningitis due to EBV was described as a self-limiting neurological disorder with residual pathological outcomes detected only in meager cases (117).…”

“…The susceptibility to VM was seen depending on some risk factors, such as the patient's age, immunity status, and concomitant other viral infections like HIV (1,53,93,103). VM was known to affect the different age groups of people, with more severe clinical consequences detected among pediatric patients than adults (73). Newborns and infants are more likely to develop more acute and critical PVM cases than older children since they are not equipped with mature immune apparatus (7,11,74).…”

Epidemiological and etiological characteristics of viral meningitis for hospitalized pediatric patients in Yunnan, China

“…This is in line with a previous study (732/6,705, 10.9%, 2015–2019), which was confirmed using the FTD-viral meningitis diagnostic kit. [ 13 ] Compared to our study, authors from other countries found higher rates of viral agents, including Brazil (44/70, 62.9%, 2010 and 2013), which was confirmed using the SYBR qPCR, [ 14 ] Lebanon (205/252, 82.7%, 2008–2016) [ 15 ] and the United Arab Emirates (34/92, 37%; 2000–2005), [ 16 ] which were confirmed using laboratory tests (clinical grounds and by exclusion of bacterial meningitis). The differences in prevalence between the different studies could be attributed to the test method and population of patients, and factors such as age group, sampling time, sample storage and transport, season, sporadic cases or an outbreak, and the high variability of the viral genes or other viral infections.…”