Medical Health Encyclopedia

Injury Disease Nutrition Poison Symptoms Surgery Test Special Topic

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Congenital herpes

Overview Symptoms Treatment Prevention

Birth-acquired herpes

Alternative Names: HSV; Congenital herpes; Herpes - congenital Treatment: Herpes virus infections in infants are generally treated with intravenous medications. Acyclovir is the most common antiviral medicine used for this purpose. A course of several weeks may be required. In addition, other therapy is often necessary to treat the effects of herpes infection such as shock or seizures. Expectations (prognosis): Text Continues Below Infants with systemic herpes or encephalitis frequently have poor outcomes despite antiviral medications and early intervention. Infants with skin disease may have recurrences after therapy is finished. The recurrences put them at risk for learning disability and may require treatment. Complications: Skin lesions Bacterial or fungal infection of skin lesions Lung problems including pneumonia or pneumonitis Respiratory distress Hepatitis Jaundice Liver failure Excessive bleeding, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) Eye problems (chorioretinitis, keratitis) Gastrointestinal problems, including diarrhea Shock Seizure Neurologic problems Developmental delay Coma Death Calling your health care provider: Call your health care provider if you have had a baby and think that you might have herpes, or have had it in the past. If your baby exhibits any of the symptoms listed in this document, including skin lesions alone, have the baby seen by the health care provider promptly.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2004 A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.