
%0 Journal Article
%A Jones, Cheryl A 
%T Diagnosis and treatment of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection in the newborn
%J Microbiology Australia
%D 2008/11/01
%V 29
%N 4
%P 194-196
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/MA08194
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/MA08194 
%X Neonatal herpes simplex virus (HSV) disease is a rare but sometimes highly lethal infection. The reported incidence in Australia is approximately four cases per 100,000 live births. HSV type 2 (HSV-2) is the predominant serotype that causes infection in the newborn in the United States, whereas in Australia 1 neonatal infection is usually caused by HSV type 1 (HSV-1), most likely due to greater prevalence of oral and genital HSV-1 disease in this country 3. Diagnosis of neonatal infection requires a high index of clinical suspicion as signs are non-specific, and is usually confirmed by isolation of HSV from skin vesicle or detection of HSV DNA in the cerebrospinal fluid, blood or surface swab. Treatment requires intravenous aciclovir for 14-21 days depending on the form of disease. 
