children s health issues
Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Infection in Newborns
Introduction
Herpes simplex virus infection usually causes only annoying, recurring blisters in healthy adults but can cause severe infection in newborns. Newborns may become infected at birth or after birth. The main symptom is a rash of blisters. The diagnosis is typically based on tests of samples taken from the blisters. Many untreated children die. To prevent spreading the infection, infected women may have a cesarean delivery. Newborns with herpes simplex virus infection are given the antiviral medicationacyclovir. (See also Overview of Infections in Newborns and Infection with herpes simplex virus is very common in adults. The virus can be transmitted sexually and cause infection of the genital tract. The virus never goes completely away and remains dormant (inactive) in various tissues for life. Sometimes the virus reactivates. Usually, Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Infections (HSV) is transmitted during delivery through the mother’s infected genital tract. Even infected mothers who do not have any symptoms of herpes can still transmit the infection. Sometimes newborns become infected after birth when the infection is spread by someone with an active infection. In newborns, HSV infection can lead to death or chronic problems. 