Neurodevelopmental Outcome of Infants with Viral Meningitis in the First Three Months of Life
Abstract
We prospectively evaluated the neurodevelopmental outcome of infants with documented viral meningitis to determine (1) whether deficits in physical growth, development, speech and language, hearing, or intelligence occur; and (2) if so, at what age these deficits can be detected. Sixteen infants with documented enteroviral meningitis under the age of 90 days and a control group of 13 patients matched for age, race, sex, and socioeconomic status were followed up prospectively for 3 years with annual evaluations, which included a developmental evaluation by a pediatric developmentalist, articulation and language tests by a speech-language pathologist (Sequenced Inventory of Communication Development, Receptive-Expressive Emergent Language Scale (REEL), Preschool Language Scale (PLS), Revised Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT-R), Photo Articulation Test, audiometric screening), and intelligence tests by a psychometrist (Bayley Scales of Infant Development [BSID] and Stanford-Binet). No deficits were demonstrated in growth, development, hearing, BSID, articulation, and expressive language. Subtle but significant (P<0.05) deficits were documented in the study group compared with the control group in the receptive component of the REEL, all subsections of the PLS, the PPVT-R, and the verbal comprehension/ language-processing section (Factor II) of the Stanford-Binet. These differences could be reliably detected by 3 years of age. We conclude that viral meningitis in young infants may cause subtle deficits in language skills, particularly receptive language. We recommend that children who have had enteroviral meningitis during early infancy be monitored carefully for language development and, perhaps, receive increased language stimulation in the home prior to school entry in order to optimize their learning potential.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Two studies have shown subtle delays in receptive language in children with EV meningitis in the first three months of life with no evidence of other long-term sequelae.
“Two studies have shown subtle delays in receptive language in children with EV meningitis in the first three months of life [17,18] with no evidence of other long-term sequelae.”
From Paediatric Investigators Collaborative Network on Infections in Canada (PICNIC) study of aseptic meningitis (2006) · cites this paper as [17]
Cites
Social class and mental illness: Community study.
Hollingshead, A. B., & Redlich, F. C. (1958) · John Wiley & Sons, Inc. eBooks · doi:10.1037/10645-000 · Cited by 3,744 · see citing works
Social Class and Mental Illness
Hunt, R. G., Hollingshead, A. B., & Redlich, F. C. (1959) · The American Journal of Psychology · doi:10.2307/1420236 · Cited by 3,307 · see citing works
Manual for the Bayley Scales of Infant Development
Bayley, N. (1969) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 1,328 · see citing works
The Denver II: A Major Revision and Restandardization of the Denver Developmental Screening Test
Frankenburg, W. K., Dodds, J. B., Archer, P., Shapiro, H., & Bresnick, B. (1992) · PEDIATRICS · doi:10.1542/peds.89.1.91 · Cited by 1,094 · see citing works
Sequelae of Central-Nervous-System Enterovirus Infections
Sells, C. J., Carpenter, R. L., & Ray, C. G. (1975) · New England Journal of Medicine · doi:10.1056/nejm197507032930101 · Cited by 151 · see citing works
Rorabaugh, M. L., Berlin, L. E., Heldrich, F., Roberts, K., Rosenberg, L. A., Doran, T., & Modlin, J. F. (1993) · Pediatrics · doi:10.1542/peds.92.2.206 · Cited by 111 · see citing works
Wilfert, C. M., Thompson, R. J., Sunder, T. R., O'Quinn, A., Zeller, J., & Blacharsh, J. (1981) · Pediatrics · doi:10.1542/peds.67.6.811 · Cited by 89 · see citing works
Outcome in children with enteroviral meningitis during the first year of life
Bergman, I., Painter, M. J., Wald, E. R., Chiponis, D. M., Holland, A. L., & Taylor, H. G. (1987) · The Journal of Pediatrics · doi:10.1016/s0022-3476(87)80006-9 · Cited by 84 · see citing works
WILFERT, C. M., LEHRMAN, S. N., & KATZ, S. L. (1983) · The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal · doi:10.1097/00006454-198307000-00019 · Cited by 83 · see citing works
The newly abbreviated and revised Denver developmental screening test
Frankenburg, W. K., Fandal, A. W., Sciarillo, W. G., & Burgess, D. (1981) · The Journal of Pediatrics · doi:10.1016/s0022-3476(81)80041-8 · Cited by 73 · see citing works
A Comparative Review of Developmental Screening Tests
Glascoe, F. P. (1991) · PEDIATRICS · doi:10.1542/peds.88.1.182 · Cited by 66 · see citing works
A follow-up study of 15 cases of neonatal meningoencephalitis due to Coxsackie virus B5
Farmer, K., MacArthur, B. A., & Clay, M. M. (1975) · The Journal of Pediatrics · doi:10.1016/s0022-3476(75)80823-7 · Cited by 58 · see citing works
A Comparative Review of Developmental Screening Tests
Glascoe, F. P., Martin, E. D., & Humphrey, S. (1990) · PEDIATRICS · doi:10.1542/peds.86.4.547 · Cited by 49 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Byington, C. L., Taggart, E. W., Carroll, K. C., & Hillyard, D. R. (1999) · PEDIATRICS · doi:10.1542/peds.103.3.e27 · Cited by 97 · see citing works
Language Development in Sub-Saharan Africa
Alcock, K., & Alibhai, N. (2013) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-1-4614-6834-9_8 · Cited by 96 · see citing works
Kadambari, S., Braccio, S., Ribeiro, S., Allen, D. J., Pebody, R., Brown, D., Cunney, R., Sharland, M., & Ladhani, S. (2019) · Archives of Disease in Childhood · doi:10.1136/archdischild-2018-315643 · Cited by 88 · see citing works
Rotbart, H. A. (2014) · ASM Press eBooks · doi:10.1128/9781555818326.ch13 · Cited by 78 · see citing works
Nongenetic causes of hearing loss
Roizen, N. (2003) · Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities Research Reviews · doi:10.1002/mrdd.10068 · Cited by 72 · see citing works
Developmental, cognitive, and behavioral sequelae of child abuse
Cahill, L. T., Kaminer, R. K., & Johnson, P. G. (1999) · Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North America · doi:10.1016/s1056-4993(18)30156-1 · Cited by 67 · see citing works
Lee, B. E., Chawla, R., Langley, J. M., Forgie, S. E., Al-Hosni, M., Baerg, K., Husain, E., Strong, J., Robinson, J. L., Allen, U., et al. (2006) · BMC Infectious Diseases · doi:10.1186/1471-2334-6-68 · Cited by 62 · see citing works
“Two studies have shown subtle delays in receptive language in children with EV meningitis in the first three months of life [17,18] with no evidence of other long-term sequelae.”
BackgroundGroup B Coxsackie Disease in Children
Modlin, J. F., & Rotbart, H. A. (1997) · Current topics in microbiology and immunology · doi:10.1007/978-3-642-60687-8_4 · Cited by 51 · see citing works
Dean, D., Hans, M. G., Bookstein, F. L., & Subramanyan, K. (2000) · The Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal · doi:10.1597/1545-1569(2000)037 · Cited by 45 · see citing works
Hudson, J. A., Broad, J., Martin, N. G., Sadarangani, M., Galal, U., Kelly, D. F., Pollard, A. J., & Kadambari, S. (2020) · Reviews in Medical Virology · doi:10.1002/rmv.2083 · Cited by 38 · see citing works
Mild cognitive impairment after viral meningitis in adults
Sittinger, H., Müller, M., Schweizer, I., & Merkelbach, S. (2002) · Journal of Neurology · doi:10.1007/s004150200064 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
Enteroviral infections in the first three months of life
Sandoni, M., Ciardo, L., Tamburini, C., Boncompagni, A., Rossi, C., Guidotti, I., Garetti, E., Lugli, L., Iughetti, L., & Berardi, A. (2022) · Pathogens · doi:10.3390/pathogens11010060 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
de Jong, E. P., Holscher, H. C., Steggerda, S. J., van Klink, J. M. M., van Elzakker, E. P. M., Lopriore, E., Walther, F. J., & Brus, F. (2017) · European Journal of Pediatrics · doi:10.1007/s00431-017-2981-1 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
Perinatal Enterovirus Infections
Abzug, M. J. (2014) · ASM Press eBooks · doi:10.1128/9781555818326.ch10 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
Balasubramanian, H., Wagh, D., Rao, S. C., Keil, A. D., & McMichael, J. (2016) · Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health · doi:10.1111/jpc.13083 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Alcock, K., Abubakar, A. A., Newton, C. R. J. C., & Holding, P. (2016) · BMC Research Notes · doi:10.1186/s13104-016-2264-3 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Wermker, K., Jung, S., Joos, U., & Kleinheinz, J. (2012) · International Journal of Otolaryngology · doi:10.1155/2012/321319 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Enterovirus infections of neonates and infants
Abzug, M. J., & Rotbart, H. A. (1999) · Seminars in Pediatric Infectious Diseases · doi:10.1016/s1045-1870(99)80018-1 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Solitary Fibrous Tumor of the Liver
Bejarano, P. A., Blanco, R., & Hanto, D. W. (1998) · International Journal of Surgical Pathology · doi:10.1177/106689699800600206 · Cited by 7 · see citing works
Bacterial Meningitis in Childhood
Sadarangani, M., & Pollard, A. J. (2011) · Advances in experimental medicine and biology · doi:10.1007/978-1-4614-0204-6_16 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Abeywickrema, M., Kelly, D. F., & Kadambari, S. (2023) · Reviews in Medical Virology · doi:10.1002/rmv.2421 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Tumors of the Liver—Pathologic Aspects
Zimmermann, A. (2007) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-1-4160-3256-4.50082-x · Cited by 4 · see citing works
World Health Organization (2025) · World Health Organization eBooks · doi:10.2471/b09348 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Romero, J. R. (2016) · ASM Press eBooks · doi:10.1128/9781555819439.ch46 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
A prospective study of enterovirus infection in Thai infants presenting as sepsis
Petwijit, T., Desudchit, T., Punnahitanonda, S., Wacharapluesadee, S., & Hemachudha, T. (2007) · Asian Biomedicine · doi:10.5372/2001 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Neurodevelopmental Outcomes Following Childhood Viral Meningitis in Canterbury New Zealand
Martin, N. G., Williman, J. A., Walls, T., Sadarangani, M., & Grant, C. C. (2024) · The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal · doi:10.1097/inf.0000000000004398 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Parent-administered Neurodevelopmental Follow up in Children After Picornavirus CNS Infections
Stephens, C. M., Reynolds, C., Cremin, M., Barry, R., Morley, U., Gibson, L., Gascun, C. F. D., & Felsenstein, S. (2021) · The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal · doi:10.1097/inf.0000000000003192 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Romero, J. R. (2009) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1128/9781555815981.ch45 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Lee, E. Y., Tan, J. H. Y., Choong, C. T., Tee, N. W. S., Chong, C. Y., Thoon, K. C., Maiwald, M., Tan, M. S. S., & Tan, N. W. (2020) · Journal of Pediatric Neurology · doi:10.1055/s-0040-1716366 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Infectious Diseases, Immunizations and Universal Precautions
Khasawneh, R., Wallen, J., & Davies, H. D. (2016) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-18096-0_134
Neonatal Viral Meningitis and Neurodevelopment
Millichap, J. G. (1996) · Pediatric Neurology Briefs · doi:10.15844/pedneurbriefs-10-7-11
Vaccines Against Central Nervous System Infections: Past Achievements and Future Challenges
Sadarangani, M. (2018) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-813806-9.00004-4
Acute Pediatric Central Nervous System Infections
Harmon, W. G., Maffei, F. A., & Rubenstein, J. S. (2006) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-032301808-1.50060-2
A newborn boy with fever and seizures
Rahman, M., Knudsen, P. K., Ramm‐Pettersen, A., Dudman, S. G., & Landaas, E. T. (2026) · Tidsskrift for Den norske legeforening · doi:10.4045/tidsskr.25.0365
- Authors
- Baker, R. C., Kummer, A. W., Schultz, J. R., Ho, M., & Gonzalez del Rey, J.
- Affiliations
- University of Cincinnati (US)
- Division of Emergency Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
- ORCID
- Kummer, Ann W.
- Venue
- Clinical Pediatrics
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 1996-06
- Volume
- 35
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 295-301
- ISSN
- 0009-9228 (ISSN-L)
- 1938-2707
- OpenAlex
- W2105734881
- Cited by
- 34
- References
- 13
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 4 · 2014: 2 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 1.95
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Clinical Pediatrics (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Center for Research Resources (M01RR008084, RR-8084)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Infectious Encephalopathies and Encephalitis
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine › Viral Infections and Immunology Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Developmental and Educational Psychology › Language Development and Disorders
- Keywords
- viral meningitis, enteroviral meningitis, neurodevelopmental outcomes, infants, language development, intellectual functioning, hearing, physical growth, language stimulation, early infancy
- MeSH terms
- Analysis of Variance, Psychology, Child, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Infant, Infant, Newborn, Language Development Disorders, Language Tests, Male, Meningitis, Viral, Neuropsychological Tests, Prospective Studies, Psychometrics, Sensitivity and Specificity, Stanford-Binet Test, Chi-Square Distribution
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
