There was an epidemic of aseptic meningitis in Korea for 3 years from 1996 to 1998. In this study, we reported the time of outbreak, age and sex distribution, clinical manifestations, laboratory data, and complications of the children with aseptic meningitis.

We reviewed clinical records of 192 aseptic meningitis patients who had been admitted to Pohang St. Mary's Hospital from 1996 to 1998.

Aseptic meningitis occurred most frequently in July and August. The ratio of male to female was 1.91 : 1, and the most prevalent age was 1 to 5 years of age. The main symptoms were fever, vomiting, headache in this order of frequency. Peripheral blood showed leukocytosis(WBC > 10,000/mm³) in 44.3% of the cases. CSF examination showed WBC count were less than 500/mm³ in 88.0%, protein levels less than 40 mg/dL in 61.5%, and glucose levels more than 40 mg/dL in 94.3% of the cases. We did not isolate the causative viral agents.

Aseptic meningitis was prevalent in children in the Pohang area from 1996 to 1998. Clinical manifestations and CSF profiles of aseptic meningitis patients showed no great difference compared to other reported.