Isolation of Parainfluenza Virus Type 3 from Cerebrospinal Fluid Associated with Aseptic Meningitis

Parainfluenza virus type 3 has been isolated from the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) from six individuals--four children and two adults--over a 10-year period. All had fever, and four had signs of meningitis. All recovered uneventfully, including one child undergoing chemotherapy for medulloblastoma. The clinical presentation of this child who developed parainfluenza virus type 3 meningitis is described, and the cases of five other individuals with parainfluenza virus type 3 isolated from the CSF are briefly reviewed. The paramyxovirus parainfluenza type 3, in addition to mumps virus, may be considered capable of infecting the central nervous system.