Disseminated Neonatal Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 After a Water Birth

Neonatal herpes simplex virus (NHSV) infections are associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Numerous factors influence the transmission of HSV infection to newborns; however, immersion in water during labor has received very little attention as a possible risk factor despite the increasing popularity of water births. We report a case of disseminated NHSV type 1 infection, possibly acquired during a water birth. The purpose of this report is to alert healthcare providers to this potential route of transmission and to highlight the importance of screening guidelines for HSV before a water birth. Furthermore, it is essential to consider NHSV infection in any febrile infant who is not responding to standard empirical antibiotic management, even in the absence of herpetic lesions.