Neonatal herpes

Neonatal herpes simplex
Other namesNeonatal herpes
A cutaneo-mucous form of herpes simplex in a neonate
SpecialtyPediatrics Edit this on Wikidata
Usual onsetCongenital
CausesHerpes simplex virus infection
Frequency1 in 10,000 births[1]

Neonatal herpes simplex, or simply neonatal herpes, is a herpes infection in a newborn baby, caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). It occurs mostly as a result of vertical transmission of the HSV from an affected mother to her baby.[2] Types include skin, eye, and mouth herpes (SEM), disseminated herpes (DIS), and central nervous system herpes (CNS).[3] Depending on the type, symptoms vary from a fever to small blisters, irritability, low body temperature, lethargy, breathing difficulty, and a large abdomen due to ascites or large liver.[3] There may be red streaming eyes or no symptoms.[3]

The cause is HSV 1 and 2.[2] It can infect the unborn baby, but more often passes to the baby during childbirth.[4] Onset is typically in the first six weeks after birth.[3] The baby is at greater risk of being affected if the mother contracts HSV in later pregnancy.[2] In such scenarios a prolonged rupture of membranes or childbirth trauma may increase the risk further.[2]

Globally, it is estimated to affect one in 10,000 births.[1] Around 1 in every 3,500 babies in the United States contract the infection.[5]

  1. ^ a b "Herpes simplex virus". www.who.int. Archived from the original on 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d Hussein, Abir; Moss, Nicholas J.; Wald, Anne (2022). "55. Herpes simplex virus genital infection". In Jong, Elaine C.; Stevens, Dennis L. (eds.). Netter's Infectious Diseases (2nd ed.). Philadelphia: Elsevier. pp. 300–307. ISBN 978-0-323-71159-3.
  3. ^ a b c d Fernandes, Neil D.; Arya, Kapil; Ward, Rebecca (2023). "Congenital Herpes Simplex". StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. PMID 29939674.
  4. ^ Jaan, Ali; Rajnik, Michael (2023). "TORCH Complex". StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing. PMID 32809363.
  5. ^ "Neonatal herpes simplex". Boston Children's Hospital. 14 July 2009. Archived from the original on 20 February 2014. Retrieved 2 February 2014.