pediatrics
Neonatal Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Infection
Prognosis for Neonatal HSV Infection
The mortality rate of untreated disseminated herpes simplex disease is 85%; among neonates with untreated encephalitis, it is about 50%. Without treatment, at least 65% of survivors of disseminated disease or encephalitis have severe neurologic sequelae. Appropriate treatment, including parenteralacyclovir, decreases the mortality rate in CNS and disseminated disease by 50% and increases the percentage of children who develop normally from about 35% to 50 to 80%. Death is uncommon in neonates with local disease limited to the skin, eyes, or mouth. However, without treatment, many of these neonates will progress to disseminated disease or CNS disease that may be unrecognized. 