Signs & Symptoms of a Herpes Infection in a Newborn

Herpes is a virus that can cause oral and genital skin infections. Two types of herpes exist, HSV-1 (oral) and HSV-2 (genital), and both could be transmitted from mother to baby before or during delivery, according to Keep Kids Healthy. Though very rare, when a baby does acquire herpes, it may be life-threatening.

  1. Skin, Eyes and Mouth

    • The herpes virus that affects the skin, eyes and mouth (SEM disease) is the most common type of herpes infection in newborns, Dr. Stephen L. Sacks says. It presents itself in the first few weeks of life and is the easiest form of herpes to identify since the infection shows up as a single blister or sore, a cluster of blisters, or a red or purple rash.

      These skin lesions and rashes usually appear on parts of the body that received skin trauma during delivery; for instance, the rash may occur where a scalp electrode was placed. In other cases, the site of initial contact with the herpes virus is where the skin rash may first appear; for example, if the baby was delivered headfirst, the skin lesions may appear on the head.

      Since newborns commonly get rashes unrelated to herpes and because herpes rashes may resemble other rashes, a physician should be consulted for a diagnosis.

    Central Nervous System

    • Another form of herpes infection in newborns targets the central nervous system or brain (CNS disease). Symptoms of CNS disease usually appear in the second or third week after the baby is born---fever, irritability, shaking and seizures are typical signs. Skin lesions may be present but are not common in more serious forms of herpes infections such as CNS disease, according to Dr. Sacks.

    Disseminated Herpes

    • Though less common than the other forms, disseminated herpes is more serious because it can affect the brain as well as other vital organs such as the liver, lungs and kidneys. Signs of disseminated herpes usually develop in the first week. Similar to herpes involving the CNS, the infected baby may have a fever and seizures and exhibit irritability. Skin lesions also may be present.

      Dr. Sacks says that babies with disseminated herpes also have symptoms such as lethargy or sluggishness, difficulty breathing, pneumonia, jaundice, loss of appetite and vomiting. Sacks warns that these symptoms are "nonspecific" as they are common with other newborn conditions; therefore, it is best to consult a doctor for a diagnosis.

    2. Previous:

    Next:

    • Chromosomal Abnormalities in Pregnancy
      A chromosomal abnormality occurs when a fetus has either the incorrect number of chromosomes, incorrect amount of DNA within a chromosome, or chromosomes that are structurally flawed. These abnormalities may translate to the development of congeni
    • Uterine abnormality - problems with the womb
      Some women have a womb (uterus) that is different in shape or size from the norm. This is called abnormality of the womb or congenital uterine abnormality. It means that your womb (uterus) formed in an unusual way before you were bo
    • When to Worry About Cramping in Early Pregnancy
      When you're pregnant, it's natural to notice—and fret about—every new ache and pain in your body. This goes double for cramp-like pains in your lower abdomen that may cause you to worry that you're having a miscarriage. But cramping