Neonatal Herpes simplex virus infection

Key words: Herpes simplex virus, Newborn, Infection, Prophylaxis, Antiviral therapy

Genital Herpes is one of the most common sexually transmitted genital infection that can be transmitted to the newborn. Neonatal Herpes simplex virus infections can be devastating, so the prevention of mother to newborn transmission is a primary goal. The timeliness of antiviral therapy often affects the outcome. Therefore, Herpes simplex should always be considered in the first 6 weeks of life in the evaluation of a septic newborn with sterile bacterial cultures or in the evaluation of the neonate with central nervous system involvement without any apparent reason.