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Birth-acquired herpes or congenital herpes infection is a herpes virus infection in newborns acquired during delivery or in the womb. Babies may be born with symptoms of herpes infection, or it may develop shortly after birth.
Mothers with genital herpes can transmit the virus to the babies during vaginal delivery. Herpes infection can cause lifelong complications and often be life-threatening if left unmanaged.
Read this post to know more about the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, complications, treatment, prevention, and outcomes of birth-acquired herpes in babies.
Causes Of Birth-Acquired Herpes
Herpes infection is a contagious viral disease caused by the following strains of herpes virus(1).
- Herpes simplex type 1 (HSV 1) causes cold sores around or inside the mouth.
- Herpes simplex type 2 (HSV 2) causes genital herpes infection.
Once infected, the herpes virus stays dormant within the body and may cause recurrent infection during favorable circumstances, such as low immunity. Infants can contract herpes from inactive (no symptoms) or active (having blisters in the birth canal) maternal herpes infection.
Note: Herpes contracted from cold sores after birth is considered a neonatal herpes infection and not a congenital herpes infection.
Signs And Symptoms Of Birth-Acquired Herpes
Some babies may only have skin lesions during herpes infection. A few babies could develop systemic herpes infection, which affects various organs of the body. When the baby has herpes lesions on the skin and systemic herpes infection, it is called disseminated herpes.
The following signs and symptoms are seen in congenital herpes infection (2).
- Blisters (fluid-filled bumps) or vesicles on the skin
- Tiredness
- Breathing issues
- Bleeding-related problems
- Trouble feeding
- Jaundice
Fluid-filled blisters are commonly seen around the eyes or on the torso in congenital herpes infection. The blisters can burst and crust over time.
Diagnosis Of Birth-Acquired Herpes
The appearance of skin lesions helps diagnose herpes simplex infection in babies. The culture of a sample from the lesion helps confirm the diagnosis. Doctors may also check for enlarged lymph nodes in the groin and neck area.
Blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and urine analyses are often ordered if the baby has a herpes infection. An eye examination is recommended since eye herpes is common in birth-acquired herpes infection. MRI scan of the head is often ordered to check for brain swelling or brain damage, especially if the CSF analysis is positive for the herpes virus (3).
Treatment For Birth-Acquired Herpes
The treatment is for the management of symptoms since there is no specific cure for herpes virus infections. Intravenous antiviral medications, such as acyclovir (Zovirax), are recommended for infants with herpes for a few weeks (1).
Topical ophthalmic drugs are given along with systemic antiviral therapy for babies with herpes eye infections.
Possible Complications Of Birth-Acquired Herpes
The following complications may occur in disseminated herpes virus infection.
- Seizures
- Eye inflammation
- Blindness
- Respiratory problems
- Shock
- Hypothermia
- Coma
Seizures, shock, and hypothermia can be due to brain herpes infection (Herpes encephalitis), and this may often result in brain damage.
Prevention Of Birth-Acquired Herpes
The following precautions may reduce the risk of congenital herpes.
- Taking antiviral medications during the last weeks of pregnancy to reduce the risk of transmission
- Choosing cesarean delivery if the mother has genital herpes
- Practicing safe sex during pregnancy
Prognosis Of Birth-Acquired Herpes
Skin lesions may reoccur even after the treatment. Babies with systemic herpes or encephalitis may have a poorer prognosis than babies with skin lesions. Although antiviral therapy may help subside active infection, herpes may come back if there are favorable conditions since the virus remains dormant in the body.
Disseminated congenital herpes can result in neurological issues or coma, which can be life-threatening. Babies with systemic herpes infection may develop other potential health problems based on the organ affected.
Complete elimination of the herpes virus from the body is not possible with existing medications. However, the symptoms can be well-managed. Good prenatal care and avoiding vaginal delivery during active maternal herpes infection could help prevent congenital herpes in many babies.