title: Pediatric herpes simplex virus infections: an evidence-based approach to treatment.
abstract: Herpes simplex virus is a common virus that causes a variety of clinical presentations ranging from mild to life-threatening. Orolabial and genital herpes are common disorders that can often be managed in an outpatient setting; however, some patients do present to the emergency department with those conditions, and emergency clinicians should be aware of possible complications in the pediatric population. Neonatal herpes is a rare disorder, but prompt recognition and initiation of antiviral therapy is imperative, as the morbidity and mortality of the disease is high. Herpes encephalitis is an emergency that also requires a high index of suspicion to diagnose. Herpes simplex virus is also responsible for a variety of other clinical presentations, including herpes gladiatorum, herpetic whitlow, eczema herpeticum, and ocular herpes. This issue reviews the common clinical presentations of the herpes simplex virus, the life-threatening infections that require expedient identification and management, and recommended treatment regimens.
authors.forename: Jennifer E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.forename: Sylvia E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Garcia
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D020803:Encephalitis, Herpes Simplex / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D018259:Herpesvirus 1, Human; D018258:Herpesvirus 2, Human; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000212:Acyclovir