Neonatal herpes is a herpes infection in a newborn baby. It's caused by the herpes simplex virus, a highly contagious virus that can cause cold sores and genital ulcers in adults.
Neonatal herpes is a herpes infection in a newborn baby. It's caused by the herpes simplex virus, a highly contagious virus that can cause cold sores and genital ulcers in adults.
Herpes can be very serious for a young baby, whose immune system won't have fully developed to fight off the virus.
Thankfully, neonatal herpes is rare in the UK and can be
.A newborn baby is at risk of catching herpes if the mother had
for the first time within the last six weeks of her pregnancy.There's a risk the mother will have passed the infection on to her baby if she had a vaginal delivery.
This risk is much lower if the mother has had genital herpes before.
Learn more about the risks of genital herpes and pregnancy.
The herpes simplex virus can also be passed on to a newborn baby if:
Cold sores are at their most contagious when they burst (rupture). They remain contagious until completely healed.
Because newborn babies have underdeveloped immune systems, they can quickly become seriously ill after catching the virus.
A newborn baby infected with herpes may:
The baby's health can deteriorate quickly if the virus spreads to their brain or other parts of their body.
Contact your doctor or midwife as soon as possible if your baby has any of the above symptoms and you're worried. You may be advised to take your baby to your nearest accident and emergency department.
Neonatal herpes is usually treated with antiviral drugs given directly into the baby's vein (intravenously). This treatment may be needed for several weeks. Any related complications, such as fits (seizures), will also need to be treated.
The baby can be breastfed while receiving treatment, unless the mother has herpes sores around her nipples. If the mother is taking antiviral treatment too, this can be excreted in her breast milk but is not thought to cause any harm to the baby.
Sometimes neonatal herpes will only affect the baby's eyes, mouth or skin. In these cases, most babies will make a complete recovery with antiviral treatment.
However, the condition is much more serious if it has spread to the baby's organs. Nearly a third of infants with this type of neonatal herpes will die, even after they've been treated.
If widespread herpes is not treated immediately, there's a high chance the baby will die.
If you're pregnant and have a history of genital herpes, tell your doctor or midwife. You may need to take medication during the last month of pregnancy to prevent an outbreak of vaginal sores during labour.
Delivery by caesarean section is recommended if the genital herpes has occurred for the first time in the last six weeks of your pregnancy.
If you develop a cold sore or think you're coming down with a herpes infection, take these precautions:
You may find these resources helpful:
Important: Our website provides useful information but is not a substitute for medical advice. You should always seek the advice of your doctor when making decisions about your health.