"From the Skin to the Brain: A Hint to Diagnose Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 Meningitis"

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Introduction. Le virus de l'herps simplex de type 2 est reconnu comme l'une des causes les plus frquentes de mningite aseptique. C'est aussi une complication bien connue de l'herps gnital. Nous rapportons un cas de mningite rcidivante virus de l'herps simplex de type 2 sans squelles gnitales mais aux lsions cutanes simultanes qui ont constitu un indice de diagnostic. Prsentation du cas. Un jeune homme a connu deux pisodes de mningite aseptique en 2019 et 2021, respectivement. Dans les deux pisodes, les manifestations neurologiques ont t prcdes de lsions cutanes herptiques rcurrentes sur son bras droit. L'ADN du virus de l'herps simplex de type 2 n'a t dpist dans le liquide cphalo-rachidien que lors du ABSTRACT Introduction. Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is recognized as one of the most common causes of aseptic meningitis, that is also a well-known complication of genital herpes. We report a case of recurrent HSV-2 meningitis without genital lesions, but with simultaneous skin lesions that were a clue for diagnosis. Case presentation. A 21-year-old man had two episodes of aseptic meningitis in 2019 and 2021, respectively. During both episodes, the neurological manifestations were preceded by recurrent herpetic skin lesions on the right arm. HSV-2 deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was detected in the spinal fluid only in the first episode. However, due to the possibility that the lesions and simultaneous episodes of meningitis were caused by HSV-2, systemic acyclovir was initiated. Each time, the treatment was followed by rapid symptoms' resolution. After the second episode, the patient was put on indefinite suppressive therapy with valacyclovir.