meningitis is a notifiable disease in many countries, the exact incidence rate is unknown. In 2013 meningitis resulted in 303,000 deaths - down from 464,000 deaths in 1990. In 2010 it was estimated that meningitis resulted in 420,000 deaths, excluding cryptococcal meningitis.
Bacterial meningitis
For the purposes of our study we identified all the EV71 pediatric patients at Chang Gung Children's Hospital (CGCH) and at the NTUH between 1998 and 2003. These patients were clinically confirmed to have hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) of herpangina or febrile illness, and a positive