Neonatal herpes in herpes simplex virus type 2 and HIV-seropositive pregnant patients;the role of preventive measures in the absence of clinical disease of herpes

Abstract

There is very little knowledge about how herpes simplex virus (HSV) seropositivity of HIV-positive mothers could complicate the occurrence of neonatal herpetic disease, in the absence of genital ulcers, in this group of patients. We present a case of fatal disseminated neonatal herpes infection in a baby, born to a HIV-positive patient, and wish to discuss the potential need for changes in the management of this group of patients during pregnancy. Disseminated HSV disease is a rare, yet serious condition in newborns of HSV-infected mothers, and women with HIV infection have shown to frequently shed more HSV DNA in their genital secretions, even in the absence of active herpetic ulcers. This is the first case report of this rare association and, as a result, the evidence in support of our hypothesis has been extrapolated from other studies.