Brief Answer:
Uh Oh-- sounds like some Doc's not reading anymore

Detailed Answer:
Good afternoon. My name is Dr. Dariush Saghafi and I am a neurologist in the XXXXXXX Ohio.

Actually, it is a good thing you asked because unfortunately, I will have to be a bit opposition to your doctor and tell you that Mollaret's meningitis is POTENTIALLY CONTAGIOUS.

Mollaret's meningitis runs a very benign course in its host because it is believed to be a RECURRENT form of a viral meningitis. In other words, it keeps bothering its victim throughout their lifetime. It's referred to as ASEPTIC as well not because it's so "clean" or "sterile" but because it does not cause the same type of aggressive PURULENT response that a bacterial meningitis does. So in that sense it is considered "relatively clean."

Bottom line is this, mollaret's is felt now to be caused by Herpes Simplex Viruses...usually Type 2 but in some cases Type 1 as well. It can be passed on to unsuspecting other hosts through secretions from the mouth, nose, through coughing, sneezing, spitting, biting, kissing, urine, feces.....in short any way the virus can get out of the host's body...it will travel and ride to the next person through some type of secretion vector.

I would not let the granddaughter around the sick person while they are in their viral shedding period. Unfortunately, the TRUE viral shedding period occurs from usually DAYS before the person actually manifests symptoms to when the person is no longer symptomatic with the disease process. So essentially, it's almost impossible to know exactly when the host is shedding until after they get sick and then, you can sort of back track to find out when you SHOULD'VE STARTED STAYING AWAY FROM THEM.....that helps a lot doesn't it? Yikes!

The person with the Mollaret's should consider getting treated with an antiviral such as Acyclovir (Zovirax) or Valcyclovir (Valtrex) aggressively for a period of at least 2-4 months in order to suppress future attacks. At least that's my routine for treating this thing in my patients.

High risk contacts should stay away for at least the first several weeks of the illness. Others not at high risk could visit after the person has been on treatment for a period of 7-10 days in order to be optimally safe...maybe even as early as 5-7 days after treatment is begun.

Let me say that if you like to direct any questions to me in the future and I do hope you'll give me a chance at helping you in the future then, please look me up at:

bit.ly/drdariushsaghafi

Otherwise, if there is useful information in this writing and you are so inclined would you do be a big favor and leave me a little written feedback with a STAR RATING of this inquiry? I hope I've given you a bit of insight into this interesting question. I think your little one is going to be just fine.

Also, if there are no other comments or questions would you please consider CLOSING THE QUERY on your end so that the network can properly credit this work and archive it for future reference?

This query required 26 minutes of physician directed time for review, research, and final draft documentation for envoy.

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