“A rare form of aseptic meningitis is called molaret’s. It is also known as benign recurrent aseptic, benign recurrent lymphocytic, and idiopathic recurrent meningitis.”

“There is no evidence to suggest that the vaccine increases your risk of developing Mollaret’s.”

This article explores what we know about this illness.

Meningitis occurs when the meninges are inflamed or swollen. The meninges consist of three layers of membranes that protect the brain and spinal cord.

Meningitis is often due to an infection. Aseptic meningitis is a catch-all term that refers to cases of meningitis caused by viruses, fungi, parasites, medications, and cancer.

Mollaret’s meningitis is a rare type of aseptic meningitis that’s most often due to herpes simplex virus type-2 (HSV-2). It’s usually recurrent, which means that symptoms may appear suddenly, resolve, and can reappear again later.

It is not usually related to an active infection and is not contagious.

Can I get Mollaret’s meningitis from the COVID-19 vaccine?

A few case reports of aseptic meningitis following COVID-19 vaccination date from 2021 (1, 2) and 2022 (1, 2). Most cases seem linked to the Pfizer-BioNTech mRNA vaccine. But no research has proven a link between COVID-19 vaccination and aseptic meningitis.

of the reports refer specifically to Mollaret’s meningitis, and all cases were completely resolved with treatment.

Aseptic meningitis is rare after the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the authors of the reports.

“The symptoms of Mollaret’s are similar to other forms of the disease, but are usually milder and go away on their own. These may include:”

“Long-term side effects of the disease don’t appear to be caused by it.”

A 2014 case study reported that a 48-year-old male who received a diagnosis of Mollaret’s made a complete recovery without lasting effects of the illness.

Similarly, the authors of a 2020 case study of Mollaret’s in a 30-year-old female didn’t identify any long-term effects. They stated that most of the time, symptoms resolve without neurological complications.

A 2021 review and case study describing an 83-year-old male with Mollaret’s came to the same conclusion. The authors reported no known neurological side effects after recovery.

Larger-scale studies are needed to confirm the lack of problems.

Your doctor might ask you to describe your symptoms and medical history to help diagnose the disease. They will conduct a physical exam.

When doctors suspect meningitis, they commonly use a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) to identify whether the cause is bacterial or aseptic. This procedure involves extracting a small amount of cerebrospinal fluid from your spine and analyzing protein, glucose, and red and white blood cell levels, in addition to a bacterial culture.

Your doctor might also order additional diagnostic tests, including urine, blood, and imaging tests, to rule out other possible causes of your symptoms. A positive PCR test for HSV-2 can sometimes confirm a diagnosis of Mollaret’s meningitis.

There is no standard treatment for the disease.

A 2021 review recommends providing supportive care for symptoms like There is a high degree of fever. and nausea. The authors indicated antiviral therapy isn’t required, as symptoms typically resolve completely on their own.

But your doctor may prescribe antivirals anyway. The symptoms of Mollaret’s meningitis can sometimes resemble other, more serious conditions, such as encephalitis.

It is rare. Only a small percentage of people who have HSV-2 will develop the disease.

“There are no clear reasons for the development of Mollaret’s. There is no known way to prevent it.”

Does Mollaret’s meningitis go away?

In all of the case reports described in this article, Mollaret’s went away on its own. A 2022 case report and literature review notes that symptoms of Mollaret’s last 5 to 7 days.

Is Mollaret’s meningitis contagious?

“There is no contagiousness of the disease of molluscaret’s.”

It is often linked to infections like HSV-2. Someone who is positive for the sexually transmitted disease, HSV-2 can be spread via sexual contact.

“Being positive for the vaccine for human sions 2 doesn’t mean you’ll get a disease. These are rare.”

Is there a vaccine to protect against HSV-2?

A vaccine for HSV-2 is currently under development. If you’re HSV-2 positive, medications are available to reduce your risk of passing the virus to others.

“There are other viruses that can cause Mollaret’s. Other viruses have been linked to the same thing.”

Mollaret’s meningitis is a rare, recurring form of aseptic meningitis. Its symptoms include There is a high degree of fever. and There is a throbbing head..

It can be difficult to diagnose since symptoms may be similar to other conditions. It usually goes away on its own, but may reoccur weeks or months later.

There are a few reports of aseptic meningitis after the COVID-19 vaccine, but there is no clear link. This rare but possible problem can be treated with medication.