Neonatal herpes simplex virus infection

Herpes simplex viral infection of newborn is caused by herpes simplex virus. It is a double-stranded DNA virus and can be divided into two types. Type Ⅰ mainly causes mucous membrane herpes on the lips, perioral, gingival, and pharynx; Ⅱ Type causes genital herpes. Newborn HSV infection is mostly caused by type Ⅱ and occasionally by type Ⅰ. HSV has the characteristics of long-term latency, recurrent attacks, and neurophilic tissues; systemic infections are more common in preterm infants, and the lesions involve multiple organs with a severe prognosis.