Meningitis Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Meningitis, including details on viral, bacterial, spinal, symptoms, treatment.

Recurrent benign lymphocytic meningitis.

Shalabi M, Whitley RJ

Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.

Recurrent benign lymphocytic meningitis is a recurring, typically innocuous, painful form of aseptic meningitis. This syndrome is associated with transient neurological symptoms in one-half of afflicted patients. The causative agent is usually herpes simplex virus type 2, which can be confirmed by detection of viral DNA in the cerebrospinal fluid using polymerase chain reaction. Clinical disease resolves spontaneously; however, acyclovir, valacyclovir, and famciclovir have been administered to some patients for both episodic therapy and suppression of recurrences. This therapy is thought to be beneficial, although there is no controlled trial data to support efficacy and safety.

Published 9 October 2006 in Clin Infect Dis, 43(9): 1194-7.
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