Could the Identification of Skin Lesions Be Beneficial for the Differential Diagnosis of Viral Meningitis?
Viral infections may vary from mild to severe, manifesting with a wide range of symptoms, including skin lesions, influenza-like symptoms, or meningitis/meningoencephalitis signs. Viruses that cause both skin lesions and meningitis comprise, e.g., Enteroviruses (EVs) and Herpes viruses (HV). EVs are...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-06-01
|
| Series: | Zoonotic Diseases |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2813-0227/5/2/16 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849425311562727424 |
|---|---|
| author | Agata Marszałek Weronika Górska Artur Łukawski Carlo Bieńkowski Maria Pokorska-Śpiewak |
| author_facet | Agata Marszałek Weronika Górska Artur Łukawski Carlo Bieńkowski Maria Pokorska-Śpiewak |
| author_sort | Agata Marszałek |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Viral infections may vary from mild to severe, manifesting with a wide range of symptoms, including skin lesions, influenza-like symptoms, or meningitis/meningoencephalitis signs. Viruses that cause both skin lesions and meningitis comprise, e.g., Enteroviruses (EVs) and Herpes viruses (HV). EVs are responsible for approximately 90% of viral meningitis cases. They occur frequently among children under 3 years of age and are characterized by various types of rash. HV infections are responsible for up to 18% of viral meningitis, mostly among adults or older children. Most patients with viral meningitis recover entirely. However, the rates of serious complications and mortality may be as high as 74% and 10%, respectively, for particularly vulnerable neonatal or immunocompromised patients. Patients that present signs of encephalitis and/or are suspected to have HSV/VZV infection require immediate implementation of empiric acyclovir therapy before receiving the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test results. The clinical picture of viral meningitis may differ depending on the virus, including the presence of both meningeal signs and skin lesions. Therefore, early identification of the etiological factor is necessary for early and proper treatment implementation. It is crucial to accurately differentiate between the causative agents, and this work focuses on answering the question of how skin lesions can assist in achieving a better and faster diagnosis. The aim of this review was to analyze the characteristics of skin lesions in the course of meningitis caused by various viral species. This can be helpful for physicians in the diagnostic process and subsequent treatment. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7dc8cca2ec00481b8bff4284cfdeabdf |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2813-0227 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Zoonotic Diseases |
| spelling | doaj-art-7dc8cca2ec00481b8bff4284cfdeabdf2025-08-20T03:29:48ZengMDPI AGZoonotic Diseases2813-02272025-06-01521610.3390/zoonoticdis5020016Could the Identification of Skin Lesions Be Beneficial for the Differential Diagnosis of Viral Meningitis?Agata Marszałek0Weronika Górska1Artur Łukawski2Carlo Bieńkowski3Maria Pokorska-Śpiewak4Student’s Scientific Group, Department of Children’s Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, Wolska 37, 01-201 Warsaw, PolandStudent’s Scientific Group, Department of Children’s Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, Wolska 37, 01-201 Warsaw, PolandStudent’s Scientific Group, Department of Children’s Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, Wolska 37, 01-201 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Children’s Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, Wolska 37, 01-201 Warsaw, PolandDepartment of Children’s Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, Wolska 37, 01-201 Warsaw, PolandViral infections may vary from mild to severe, manifesting with a wide range of symptoms, including skin lesions, influenza-like symptoms, or meningitis/meningoencephalitis signs. Viruses that cause both skin lesions and meningitis comprise, e.g., Enteroviruses (EVs) and Herpes viruses (HV). EVs are responsible for approximately 90% of viral meningitis cases. They occur frequently among children under 3 years of age and are characterized by various types of rash. HV infections are responsible for up to 18% of viral meningitis, mostly among adults or older children. Most patients with viral meningitis recover entirely. However, the rates of serious complications and mortality may be as high as 74% and 10%, respectively, for particularly vulnerable neonatal or immunocompromised patients. Patients that present signs of encephalitis and/or are suspected to have HSV/VZV infection require immediate implementation of empiric acyclovir therapy before receiving the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test results. The clinical picture of viral meningitis may differ depending on the virus, including the presence of both meningeal signs and skin lesions. Therefore, early identification of the etiological factor is necessary for early and proper treatment implementation. It is crucial to accurately differentiate between the causative agents, and this work focuses on answering the question of how skin lesions can assist in achieving a better and faster diagnosis. The aim of this review was to analyze the characteristics of skin lesions in the course of meningitis caused by various viral species. This can be helpful for physicians in the diagnostic process and subsequent treatment.https://www.mdpi.com/2813-0227/5/2/16viral meningitisskin lesionsenterovirus (EV)herpes simplex viruses (HSV) |
| spellingShingle | Agata Marszałek Weronika Górska Artur Łukawski Carlo Bieńkowski Maria Pokorska-Śpiewak Could the Identification of Skin Lesions Be Beneficial for the Differential Diagnosis of Viral Meningitis? Zoonotic Diseases viral meningitis skin lesions enterovirus (EV) herpes simplex viruses (HSV) |
| title | Could the Identification of Skin Lesions Be Beneficial for the Differential Diagnosis of Viral Meningitis? |
| title_full | Could the Identification of Skin Lesions Be Beneficial for the Differential Diagnosis of Viral Meningitis? |
| title_fullStr | Could the Identification of Skin Lesions Be Beneficial for the Differential Diagnosis of Viral Meningitis? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Could the Identification of Skin Lesions Be Beneficial for the Differential Diagnosis of Viral Meningitis? |
| title_short | Could the Identification of Skin Lesions Be Beneficial for the Differential Diagnosis of Viral Meningitis? |
| title_sort | could the identification of skin lesions be beneficial for the differential diagnosis of viral meningitis |
| topic | viral meningitis skin lesions enterovirus (EV) herpes simplex viruses (HSV) |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2813-0227/5/2/16 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT agatamarszałek couldtheidentificationofskinlesionsbebeneficialforthedifferentialdiagnosisofviralmeningitis AT weronikagorska couldtheidentificationofskinlesionsbebeneficialforthedifferentialdiagnosisofviralmeningitis AT arturłukawski couldtheidentificationofskinlesionsbebeneficialforthedifferentialdiagnosisofviralmeningitis AT carlobienkowski couldtheidentificationofskinlesionsbebeneficialforthedifferentialdiagnosisofviralmeningitis AT mariapokorskaspiewak couldtheidentificationofskinlesionsbebeneficialforthedifferentialdiagnosisofviralmeningitis |