Severe intrauterine herpes simplex disease with placentitis in a newborn of a mother with recurrent genital infection at delivery.
We present a case of fatal herpes simplex type 2 (HSV-2) in a premature infant born to a mother diagnosed with recurrent HSV-2, based on history and HSV serology results. It was clinically evident at delivery, and subsequently confirmed by laboratory studies that the infant was infected before delivery. There was histopathologic evidence of placentitis and chorioamnionitis upon examination of the placenta and fetal membranes. This case illustrates a relatively uncommon complication of recurrent genital herpes at delivery--intrauterine transmission to the fetus from a primary episode during pregnancy.
Chatterjee
A
A
Combined Division of Pediatric Infectious Disease, Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Room 409, Criss II, Omaha, NE 68178, USA.
Chartrand
S A
SA
Harrison
C J
CJ
Felty-Duckworth
A
A
Bewtra
C
C
D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006558:Herpes Genitalis; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000473:pathology / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical; D008297:Male; D009336:Necrosis; D010922:Placenta Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; D012008:Recurrence