Epidemic Infection with Coxsackie Virus Group B, Type 5

Abstract

A SEPTIC meningitis was a term coined in 1924 by Wallgren,¹ who believed that he was describing a distinct etiologic entity. Since that time, aseptic meningitis has been shown to be due to varied conditions, including mumps, leptospirae, poliomyelitis viruses, Coxsackie viruses^{2 , 3} and most recently ECHO viruses.^{4 5 6} The cardinal manifestations of the syndrome are stiff neck, fever, headache and pleocytosis of the spinal fluid, with a predominance of lymphocytes. The Coxsackie viruses of Group B, Types 1–4, have been reported as the etiologic agent in epidemics of aseptic meningitis,^{7 8 9} and on several occasions Coxsackie Group B viruses have been isolated . . .