Aseptic meningitis is not an uncommon complication to primary genital herpes 
infection caused by herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2). Compared with other 
types of viral meningitis, HSV-2-meningitis is associated with a significant 
rate of neurological complications in the acute stage. In addition, some 
patients will suffer from recurrent aseptic meningitis (Mollaret's meningitis) 
later. We describe six patients, five women and one man, age 26-35 years, with 
aseptic meningitis caused by HSV-2. All the patients showed serological evidence 
of primary herpes infection (negative HSV-IgG and/or positive HSV-IgM in serum 
samples). Polymerase chain reaction detected HSV-2 in cerebrospinal fluid in all 
five of five cases, while virus cultures were positive in two of the six cases. 
Only three patients showed clinical signs of simultaneous genital herpes 
infection. One patient, a 28-year-old female, developed transient autonomic 
nervous system dysfunction with urinary retention, constipation, and neuralgic 
pain in the buttocks, perineum and lower limbs. 13 months later she was 
hospitalised for a genital herpes infection with headache, parestesia and fever, 
but spinal fluid examination showed no abnormality.