title: Neonatal herpes simplex virus.
abstract: Herpes simplex virus is an important cause of neonatal infection, which can lead to death or long-term disabilities. Rarely in utero, the transmission frequently occurs during delivery. The disease may be disseminated, localized to the central nervous system, or involving skin, eye and/or mouth. Mortality rates markedly decreased with high-dose antiviral treatment. Diagnosis of neonatal infection is based on viral isolation from ulcerated vesicles or by scarifying mucocutaneous lesions. Recently polymerase chain reaction plays a central role for both viral detection (skin, mucosal, cerebrospinal fluid samples) and response to therapy. Vertical transmission may be decreased by prophylactic antiviral treatment.
authors.affiliation: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Policlinico di Modena, Italy. berardi.alberto@policlinico.mo.it
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Berardi
authors.forename: Licia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lugli
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.forename: Chiara Laguardia
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Maria
authors.forename: Isotta
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Guidotti
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ferrari
mesh_terms: D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000151:congenital* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007232:Infant, Newborn, Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology*; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D018139:Simplexvirus / Q000502:physiology*