Procalcitonin may help differentiate disseminated herpes simplex viral infection from bacterial sepsis in neonates.
Disseminated herpes simplex virus infection is a potentially fatal condition which may be difficult to differentiate from bacterial sepsis. We report the case of a neonate with overwhelming herpes simplex (type 2) viraemia who presented with 'septic shock'.


CONCLUSIONS
A low procalcitonin level (1.6 ng/ml), inconsistent with bacteraemia, suggests an alternative aetiology and may strengthen the case for antiviral therapy.
Hatherill
M
M
Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, Guy's Hospital, St. Thomas' Street, London SE1 9RT, UK.
Sykes
K
K
McIntyre
A G
AG
Murdoch
I A
IA
D015415:Biomarkers; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood*; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000097:blood*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood*; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000097:blood
D015415:Biomarkers; C000606589:CALCA protein, human; D011498:Protein Precursors; D002116:Calcitonin; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide