Enterovirus infections in the neonate.

A chart review was made of 24 neonates less than one month of age with culture-proven enteroviral infection. The seasonal distribution was summer and fall. An antecedent illness was common in the mother or other family members. One patient had a mild gastroenteritis. Three categories of severe disease were noted: (a) meningitis accounted for 50 per cent of the illnesses; (b) myocarditis for 25 per cent of the illnesses; and (c) the remainder presented with a severe sepsis-like illness. High mortality rate was associated with low birth weight and low gestational age.