title: Clinical and laboratory characteristics of central nervous system herpes simplex virus infection in neonates and young infants.
abstract: We reviewed the characteristics of infants <3 months of age with central nervous system herpes simplex virus infection at our institution. Twenty-six cases were identified. The age range was 4-73 days. Most infants presented with fever, seizure activity and skin lesions. The blood herpes simplex virus polymerase chain reaction was positive in 91% of patients tested. Suppressive oral acyclovir therapy was likely helpful in preventing disease recurrence.
authors.affiliation: From the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kotzbauer
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Andresen
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Doelling
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shore
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000821:virology; D005334:Fever / Q000821:virology; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008590:Meningoencephalitis / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000821:virology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012640:Seizures / Q000821:virology; D017193:Skin Diseases, Viral / Q000821:virology
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000212:Acyclovir