Neonatal herpes

Neonatal herpes simplex
Other names	Neonatal herpes
Specialty	Pediatrics

Neonatal herpes simplex, or simply neonatal herpes, is a herpes infection in a newborn baby caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV), mostly as a result of vertical transmission of the HSV from an affected mother to her baby.^[1] Types include skin, eye, and mouth herpes (SEM), disseminated herpes (DIS), and central nervous system herpes (CNS).^[2] 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.^[2] There may be red streaming eyes or no symptoms.^[2]

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

Globally, it is estimated to affect one in 10,000 births.^[4] Around 1 in every 3,500 babies in the United States contract the infection.^[5]