Neonatal herpes

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. Types include skin, eye, and mouth herpes (SEM), disseminated herpes (DIS), and central nervous system herpes (CNS). 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. There may be red streaming eyes or no symptoms.

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

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