Herpes Encephalitis

[Big Tuna]

Ever since I was a young boy I have gotten cold sores on my lips.  My mom and gradnma both get them as well.As I entered my 20s they would occur during stressful times etc.

About 2 years ago I began getting sores in my nose. They would burn and scab up like a cold sore.  Not very frequent, so I didn't think twice about them.  After a few months of this I slowly started having confusion, dizziness, memory loss and headaches that were light, but has progressed to severe in the past 2 years.  All MRI, CT, EEG negative.  My quetsion is if these cold sores could have spread into my nasal cavity, to sinuses and into my brain/skull and be causing these symptoms? Could my scans & tests come back negative if a present outbreak wasn't occurring?  Just keeps getting worse and worse, and stress seems to exasterbate the symptoms, so it reminds me of a flare up.

Thanks for any help you can provide.....

[Linda LeMonde]

Herpes can cause encephalitis, however, it also leaves scar tissue behind which would show up on an MRI.  So, breathe a sigh of relief.
Sores in the nose can be a staph infection...staph is endemic to the nasal cavity.  Dry membranes with a loss of the protective mucosa can create a break the staph can penetrate and cause just the sores you describe.  Spray nasal gels work pretty well to soften the area and prevent recurrence.  If you get the symptoms of a sinus infection, see your doctor for antibiotics.

[Kalio1]

From what I undertand, that in't possible. Herpes can cause meningitis in rare cases but you don't have the right symptoms. Look too other reasons for your symptoms.