Herpes : the journal of the IHMF
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Neonatal herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection can have severe consequences. Skin, eye and mouth infection is rarely fatal, but disseminated or central nervous system (CNS) disease has a mortality rate of 80% in the absence of therapy, and most surviving infants have neurological sequelae. Aciclovir therapy can improve the outcome of neonatal herpes, but is often delayed due to the early non-specific symptoms of the disease. ⋯ If maternal antiviral therapy is considered, the potential benefits of treatment should be balanced against potential adverse outcomes for mother and fetus, although it may be warranted when the mother has severe or life-threatening disease. Studies on the use of antiviral prophylaxis in women with known recurrences at labour are ongoing. Invasive fetal monitoring can increase the risk of neonatal herpes, and should only be used in HSV-2 seropositive women for defined obstetrical indications.