ABSTRACT
Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted disease that can produce obvious lesions on the external genitalia, but can also remain within the internal genitalia causing a hidden infection of the cervix (neck of the womb). Newborn babies resist an infection with herpes poorly. The virus becomes widespread and overwhelming, causing a severe infection that may be fatal even with treatment. It is recommended, therefore, that babies should be born by elective caesarean section if there is concern about active genital herpes in the mother. There may be no knowledge of the mother’s herpetic state, so the possibility of a viral infection with herpes is frequently considered in babies who are clinically infected, but in whom no focus of the infection is found. A skin rash of vesicles (fluid filled blisters) should raise the possibility of herpes.
