A 28-year-old male asked about a 22-year-old female:
Can adults with genital herpes develop encephalitis?
2 doctor answers • 3 doctors weighed in

Dr. Jeffrey Fromowitzanswered
21 years experience
Possible: This is unlikely, and would be in high risk patients (i.e. Those that are immunosuppressed).
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago

Dr. Martin Raffanswered
Infectious Disease 58 years experience
Unlikely: There is a definite association between herpes simplex type 2 and recurrent (mollaret's) meningitis, but encephalitis would be very unusual in an immune competent host. On the other hand, genital herpes can be due to type 1, and that can certainly, but uncommonly, produce meningitis, encephalitis or meningoencephalitis unpredictably.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated May 11, 2013
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