Mumps Meningoencephalitis: Prolonged Abnormality of Cerebrospinal Fluid

MUMPS meningoencephalitis is usually a benign self-limiting disease; its clinical features are fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, and meningeal signs. The clinical course is of short duration, and death or major neurological complications are rare.The patient with mumps meningoencephalitis described in this report is unusual because of the persistence of an elevated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) protein level and pleocytosis.Report of a CaseAn 11-year-old boy was admitted to Columbus (Ohio) Children's Hospital on Aug 6, 1973. Five days prior to admission, earache, fever, vomiting, and ataxia had developed. The following day, his temperature rose to 40 C (104 F). His physician gave him an injection of penicillin, and ampicillin in a dosage of 500 mg orally every six hours was prescribed. In spite of antibiotic therapy, his illness progressed and he was admitted to the hospital because of confusion and visual hallucinations. At the time of admission, his temperature