title: Neonatal herpes simplex 2 infection presenting with supraglottitis.
abstract: Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a double stranded DNA virus capable of causing primary and recurrent infection. We describe an unusual case of neonatal HSV-2 infection presenting with supraglottitis. Despite a 2 month course of intravenous aciclovir followed by 2 months of oral valaciclovir, the infant subsequently developed HSV-2 encephalitis which responded to further antiviral treatment. The subsequent diagnosis of encephalitis highlights the importance of testing CSF for HSV to establish the presence of CNS infection in neonates and thus the potential benefit of longer term suppressive antiviral therapy.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Virology, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK. Nicholas.Machin@cmft.nhs.uk
authors.forename: Nicholas W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Machin
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Morgan
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: Gabrielle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lipshen
authors.forename: Peter D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Arkwright
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D059525:Supraglottitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000821:virology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents
keywords: Neonatology; Neurology; Virology