SynthesisVirology journal2025
Viral meningitis in Sub-Saharan Africa: trends in prevalence, etiologies, and diagnostic approaches.
Synthesis in Virology journal, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Effect of Supervision or Short Messages (SMS) on the Detection Rate of Diseases Under Surveillance in the Littoral Region of Cameroon: A Randomized Controlled Health Facility-Based Trial.Research and reports in tropical medicine · 2026Article
- First detection of echovirus 18 associated with aseptic meningitis in a child in Niger Republic, 2024: a case report.BMC infectious diseases · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Viral meningitis is a significant yet often underreported public health concern in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where diagnostic limitations and surveillance gaps hinder accurate case detection. This systematic review examines epidemiological trends, etiologies, and laboratory diagnostic approaches to viral meningitis across SSA from 1987 to 2024. This data reveal that the prevalence of viral meningitis has shown an overall increasing trend, with a considerable year-to-year variability influenced by seasonal outbreaks, improved diagnostic methods, and enhanced surveillance efforts. Human enteroviruses (HEVs) were the most frequently identified causative agents, accounting for 1,164 confirmed cases, followed by the herpesvirus family, including Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV). Other detected viral pathogens include mumps virus, adenoviruses, coxsackievirus, and arboviruses such as dengue virus. The shift from traditional viral cultures to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and multiplex PCR has significantly improved the case detection. Despite these advancements, substantial gaps remain in diagnostic accessibility, surveillance systems, and less research focus on viral meningitis in SSA. Addressing these challenges through improved surveillance, enhanced diagnostic capacity, and targeted public health strategies is crucial for mitigating the burden of viral meningitis in the region.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.