Aseptic meningitis and acute encephalitis in Trinidad, West Indies

ABSTRACT

15 cases of aseptic meningitis and 5 cases of acute encephalitis occurring during 1960 in South Trinidad are described. The cases of encephalitis began to appear at the end of the outbreak of aseptic meningitis. No casual agent could be incriminated in either outbreak and there is no evidence that these two outbreaks were aetiologically related. Aseptic meningitis was a mild illness from which recovery was usually rapid. Males outnumbered females nearly 31. There were no deaths. In the majority of cases the cerebrospinal fluid showed a mixed polymorh and lymphocytic pleocytosis. The mortality among the cases of acute encaphalitis was high - 3 of the 5 cases seen died. The only clinical findings of note in this group were the severe disturbance of the state of conciousness and high pyrexia. The management of such cases is a difficult problem and there is some evidence that adreno-cortical steriods may have a definite place in treatment. (AU)