To determine the frequency of mumps infection in children hospitalized with aseptic meningoencephalitis (ME), as well as its correlation with parotiditis, this case-series study was conducted in the pediatric ward of Rasool Akram Hospital in Tehran, Iran, from 1999 to 2001.
The blood samples of these patients were tested for specific IgM antibody for mumps by Elisa method. The results of this study showed that 62.7% of children with ME were IgM positive, and the remaining (37.3%) were IgM negative. There was a significant correlation between positive IgM and the presence of parotiditis. However, no correlation was noted between age, sex and season with IGM positivity except for CSF changes (aseptic meningitis) between the two groups. It can be concluded that the presence of neural symptoms (especially aseptic meningitis) in children less than 7 years of age with parotiditis could indicate mumps ME, especially in the spring. Due to a higher percentage of unvaccinated young persons <15yr old) in Iran, probably the incidence rate of mumps infection and its sequelae are higher compared with its incidence in developed countries before massive vaccination. Therefore with massive vaccination of Iranian young people (< 20yr old), the costs of! mumps infection and its sequelae will decrease.
