Aseptic meningitis among children in Kuwait.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the epidemiology, clinical features, and the morbidity caused by aseptic meningitis in children in Kuwait. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: A multicenter retrospective study of previously healthy children hospitalized with a diagnosis of aseptic meningitis in the period 2001-2003 was carried out. RESULTS: There were 172 children with the diagnosis of meningitis based on changes in the cerebrospinal fluid. Aseptic meningitis was diagnosed in 86 (50%) of the cases; their mean age was 3.2 +/- 3.8 years. There were two peaks of cases, one during the months of May and June and the other in November/December. Older children (>or=5 years) presented more frequently with signs and symptoms suggestive of meningeal irritation than younger children (<5 years) (p