Open AccessNeuraxial Morphine and Oral Herpes Reactivation in the Obstetric Population
Author(s) -
Jeanette R. Bauchat
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
anesthesia and analgesia/anesthesia and analgesia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.404
H-Index - 201
eISSN - 1526-7598
pISSN - 0003-2999
DOI - 10.1213/ane.0b013e3181f57c30
Subject(s) - medicine , disease , morphine , cesarean delivery , herpes labialis , population , pregnancy , pediatrics , anesthesia , obstetrics , virus , immunology , herpes simplex virus , environmental health , biology , genetics
Neuraxial morphine administration is a common strategy for providing postcesarean delivery analgesia. Morphine delivered via this route increases the risk of herpes labialis (oral herpes) reactivation, a disease common in women of childbearing age. A primary concern is risk of transmission to the neonate from maternal reactivation. The benefits to the mother of this form of analgesia outweigh the risk of neonatal herpes acquired postpartum from maternal recurrence because serious neonatal morbidity from recurrent herpes has not been described.