title: Neurologic infections of the fetus and newborn.
abstract: This article concentrates primarily on infections of viral origin, although numerous microorganisms can infect the fetal and newborn brain (see Tables 1 and 2). Intrauterine infections occur most often for HIV, CMV and rubella, whereas HSV is preferentially transmitted intrapartum. In the last decade, changes in the epidemiology of some of the neonatal infections have occurred largely because of the AIDS epidemic. Indeed, pediatric HIV is now the second most frequent viral infection of the newborn (see Table 1) and congenital syphilis has reemerged. Surprisingly, the AIDS epidemic appears to have had minimum impact on infections with other organisms such as Toxoplasma and CMV that commonly infect the brain of adults with AIDS. The recent availability of improved viral diagnostic methods and anti-viral drugs has aided in the identification and treatment of infected newborns.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut.
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Griffith
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Booss
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D000328:Adult; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002493:Central Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D012410:Rubella Syndrome, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D013590:Syphilis, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy; D014125:Toxoplasmosis, Congenital / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents