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Perinatal herpes simplex virus infections
Author(s) -
Whitley R. J.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
reviews in medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.06
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1099-1654
pISSN - 1052-9276
DOI - 10.1002/rmv.1980010207
Subject(s) - citation , suite , herpes simplex virus , library science , medicine , pediatrics , family medicine , virology , history , computer science , virus , archaeology
Because of the relative paucity of data on the epidemiology and management of perinatal herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections, the following recommendations represent the best current judgments of the Cormnittees on Fetus and Newborn and Infectious Diseases of the American Academy of Pediatrics. HSV infection of the newborn is associated with a case fatality rate of 60% and at least half of the survivors have significant neurologic or ocular sequelae, or both. Approximately 75% of isolates from affected neonates are HSV-2 and 25% are HSV-1. Although preliminary data suggest that antiviral chemotherapy is effective in reducing mortality and morbidity resulting from neonatal HSV infections, measures designed to prevent infection of newborns are currently the most important means of controlling neonatal infections. A maternal source of infection can be found in about 90% of neonatal cases. Maternal HSV infection is usually caused by type 2 strains and involves the labia, cervix, and/or vagina. The majority of genital infections are asymptomatic and difficult to recognize on clinical examination, making identification of women whose infants are in jeopardy very difficult.