Neonatal Herpes
How doesa newborn baby catch herpes?
Source: NHS
In this topic (7)
During pregnancy and labour
A newborn babyis at risk of catching herpes ifthe mother had genital herpes 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 aboutthe risks of genital herpes and pregnancy .
After birth
The herpes simplex virus can also be passed on to a newborn baby if:
- a person has a cold sore and kissesthe baby
- the mother breastfeeds her baby with herpes sores on her breast these can develop after touching her cold sore and then her breast
Cold sores are at their most contagious when they burst (rupture). They remain contagious until completely healed.
Articles for Neonatal Herpes
How can neonatal herpes be prevented?
If you're pregnant and have a history of genital herpes, tell your doctor or midwife.You may need to take medication during thelast month of pregnancy to prevent an outbreak of vaginal sores during la
How doesa newborn baby catch herpes?
During pregnancy and labour A newborn babyis at risk of catching herpes ifthe mother had genital herpes for the first time within the last six weeks of her pregnancy. There's a risk the mother will
How serious is herpes for a 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 seri
Introduction
NHS Choices information on neonatal herpes (herpes in newborn babies), with links to other useful resources.
Support and advice if you've been affected
You may find these resources helpful: Cold sores Genital herpes Sands World Health Organization (WHO): herpes simplex virus
What are the warning signs in babies?
Because newborn babies have underdeveloped immune systems, they can quickly become seriously ill after catching the virus. A newbornbaby infected with herpes may: become lacking in energy (listless
Whatshould you do if you think your baby has it?
Contact your GPor 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 . N
