Table 1.
Baseline characteristics at admission in patients with VZV meningitis or meningoencephalitis
| varicella zoster virus meningitis (n=59) | varicella zoster virus meningoencephalitis (n=15) | |
|---|---|---|
| Age (mean ± SD) (years) | 56.9±13.8 | 66.1±8.5* |
| Gender | ||
| Male (numbers, %) | 35 (59.3%) | 9 (60.0%) |
| Female (numbers, %) | 24 (40.7%) | 6 (40.0%) |
| Season of onset (cases, %) | ||
| Spring | 15 (25.4%) | 4 (26.7%) |
| Summer | 8 (13.6%) | 5 (33.3%) |
| Autumn | 12 (20.3%) | 4 (26.7%) |
| Winter | 24 (40.7%) | 2 (13.3%)* |
| Comorbidity (cases) | ||
| Coronary heart disease | 6 | 2 |
| COPD | 2 | 2 |
| Hypertension | 13 | 7 |
| Immune diseases | 6 | 2 |
| Use of immune drugs | 4 | 2 |
| Stroke | 0 | 3 |
| Diabetes | 6 | 2 |
| Chronic kidney disease | 2 | 1 |
| Chronic liver disease | 7 | 4 |
| Tumor | 3 | 1 |
| Herpes zoster site (numbers) | ||
| Head and face | 45 (76.3%) | 10 (66.7%) |
| neck | 7 (11.9%) | 0 |
| Chest and back | 12 (20.3%) | 3 (20%) |
| waist | 2 (3.4%) | 2 (13.3%) |
| limb | 3 (5.1%) | 3 (20%) |
| Clinical presentations (cases) | ||
| Headache | 34 (57.6%) | 9 (60%) |
| Fever | 35 (59.3%) | 11 (73.3%) |
| Cranial nerve involvement | 11 (18.6%) | 2 (13.3%) |
| Meningeal irritation | 9 (15.3%) | 3 (20%) |
| Acute cognitive changes | 0 | 5 (33.3%) |
| Nausea and vomiting | 5 (8.5%) | 3 (20%) |
| Vertigo | 7 (11.9%) | 2 (13.3%) |
| Tinnitus | 6 (10.2%) | 1 (6.7%) |
| RHS | 8 (13.6%) | 3 (20%) |
| Seizure | 0 | 1 (6.7%) |
Compared with varicella zoster virus meningitis group.
*
P<0.05.