title: Neonatal herpes simplex virus infection: epidemiology and treatment.
abstract: Herpes simplex virus types 1 (HSV-1) and 2 (HSV-2) are highly prevalent viruses capable of establishing lifelong infection. Genital herpes in women of childbearing age represents a major risk for mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HSV infection, with primary and first-episode genital HSV infections posing the highest risk. The advent of antiviral therapy with parenteral acyclovir has led to significant improvement in neonatal HSV disease mortality. Further studies are needed to improve the clinician's ability to identify infants at increased risk for HSV infection and prevent MTCT, and to develop novel antiviral agents with increased efficacy in infants with HSV infection.
authors: University of Alabama at Birmingham, Children's Harbor Building 308, 1600 7th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35233-1711, USA.
authors: Scott H
authors: SH
authors: James
authors: Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Children's Harbor Building 303, 1600 7th Avenue South, Birmingham, AL 35233-1711, USA. Electronic address: dkimberlin@peds.uab.edu.
authors: David W
authors: DW
authors: Kimberlin
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020803:Encephalitis, Herpes Simplex / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006558:Herpes Genitalis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006561:Herpes Simplex / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016849:Keratitis, Herpetic / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000212:Acyclovir
keywords: Antiviral therapy; Genital herpes; Herpes simplex virus; Mother-to-child transmission; Neonatal herpes; Polymerase chain reaction; Pregnancy