HSV Infections (Neonatal)

Intrauterine
Rare occurrence

Perinatal
Approximately 85% of transmissions are acquired perinatally as a consequence of the presence of HSV infection (primary or recurrent, symptomatic or asymptomatic) in the genital tract at time of delivery.

Postnatal
Approximately 10% of transmissions occur postnatally, most often associated with close contact of the newborn with a caretaker with active HSV infection.

• Skin, eye, mouth (SEM) disease

• Central Nervous System (CNS) Disease

• Disseminated Disease

• Virologically proven HSV disease.

• Clinically suspected HSV disease, pending viral studies.

• Asymptomatic but at risk due to exposure (maternal active genital lesions at delivery), with positive surface cultures or positive blood HSV PCR cultures

Kimberlin DW, Baley J, Committee on infectious diseases, Committee on fetus and newborn. Guidance on management of asymptomatic neonates born to women with active genital herpes lesions. Pediatrics 2013; 131:e635.

Demler-Harrison GJ. (2017). Neonatal herpes simplex virus infection: Management and prevention. In Weisman LE, Kaplan SL, and Armsby C. (Ed.), UpToDate. Retrieved May 30, 2018, from UpToDate