title: Procalcitonin may help differentiate disseminated herpes simplex viral infection from bacterial sepsis in neonates.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, Guy's Hospital, St. Thomas' Street, London SE1 9RT, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hatherill
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sykes
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: McIntyre
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Murdoch
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C000606589:CALCA protein, human; D011498:Protein Precursors; D002116:Calcitonin; D015740:Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide