Herpes virus infections in infants are generally treated with intravenous medications. Acyclovir is the most common antiviral medicine used for this purpose. A course of several weeks may be required. In addition, other therapy is often necessary to treat the effects of herpes infection (e.g., shock, seizures).

Infants with systemic herpes or encephalitis frequently have poor outcomes despite antiviral medications and early intervention. Infants with skin disease may have recurrences after therapy is finished. These put them at risk for worsened developmental outcome (learning disability), and may require treatment.

• Skin lesions
• Bacterial or fungal infection of skin lesions
• Lung problems including pneumonia or pneumonitis
• Respiratory distress
• Hepatitis
• Jaundice
• Liver failure
• Excessive bleeding, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC)
• Eye problems (chorioretinitis, keratitis)
• Gastrointestinal problems, including diarrhea
• Shock
• Seizure
• Neurologic problems
• Developmental delay
• Coma
• Death

Call your health care provider if you have had a baby and think that you might have (or have had in the past) herpes.

If your baby exhibits any of the symptoms listed in this document, including skin lesions alone, have the baby seen by the health care provider promptly.