We present the case of a previously healthy 15-month-old girl with acute adenovirus infection who had features of severe bacterial sepsis and meningitis. Real-time qPCR done on cerebrospinal fluid identified adenovirus as the causative agent allowing stopping antibiotic treatment. The patient subsequently recovered without sequelae. An overview of published and unpublished data on adenovirus central nervous system infection in immunocompetent children is presented.