Predictors of morbidity and mortality in neonates with herpes simplex virus infections

Article Abstract:

Infection with herpes simplex virus (HSV) is one of the most dangerous infections of the newborn. About 1,500 to 2,200 babies are infected each year in the United States. In the course of conducting a study on the treatment of neonatal herpes simplex infection, data were also obtained indicating the features of infection which were most strongly associated with severe illness and death. The most significant factors affecting the survival of infected newborns were the level of consciousness at the start of therapy, whether the newborn was premature, and whether the disease was limited to the skin, eyes, or mouth, had infected the brain, or was disseminated throughout the body. The survival of children with disseminated HSV infection was just under half, while over 80 percent of babies with central nervous system infections survived. The survival of infants with infection of the skin, eyes, or mouth was 100 percent. While herpes simplex type 1 is sometimes thought of as oral herpes, causing ''cold sores,'' and type 2 is thought of as genital herpes, both types can infect either site, though with different likelihood. Both types of virus can also infect the newborn. Among the infants with disseminated infection, those with type 1 (oral) herpes had half the survival rate of those infected with type 2 (genital) herpes, since the type 1 virus was closely associated with HSV pneumonitis and disseminated coagulopathy. Surviving infants with type 2 infection, however, suffered more developmental problems than did the infants surviving type 1 infection, but this difference was not statistically significant. The authors indicate that the initiation of treatment at an early stage of the disease is very important, but that there is no practical way to provide prophylactic therapy. From 20 to 40 percent of all pregnant women have antibodies to HSV type 2. Furthermore, no signs of active infection are found in 70 percent of all mothers whose babies do become infected with HSV. Research has shown that taking cultures prior to birth offers no value in the prediction of risk to the infant. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Patient outcomes, Mortality, Prognosis

---

A controlled trial comparing vidarabine with acyclovir in neonatal herpes simplex virus infection

Article Abstract:

Infection with herpes simplex virus, the cause of cold sores and genital herpes, is embarrassing and upsetting for adults. But for the newborn infected while passing through the birth canal, infection with HSV can be deadly. The introduction of vidarabine for the treatment of HSV infection has reduced the mortality rate, but only about half of the surviving infants are developing normally by the end of their first year. A study was undertaken to determine if treatment with acyclovir, in contrast to vidarabine, might improve the success that is being achieved in the treatment of neonatal HSV infections. A total of 95 babies with confirmed HSV infection were randomly assigned to receive intravenous vidarabine and 107 infected babies received acyclovir. Babies whose infections were limited to the skin, eyes, or mouth did well; none died and 88 percent of those treated with vidarabine and 98 percent of those treated with acyclovir were developing normally at the end of one year. Babies with encephalitis, or HSV infection of the brain, did less well, and the mortality was 14 percent with either drug. Of those who survived, 43 and 29 percent of those taking vidarabine and acyclovir, respectively, were developing normally at one year. A total of 46 babies had disseminated HSV infection, in which the virus had spread through the body and was infecting many organs. Fifty percent of those taking vidarabine died, as did 61 percent of those taking acyclovir. Fifty-eight to 60 percent of the survivors were developing normally at the end of one year. The current study was able to achieve normal development in a greater fraction of infected infants than previous studies, which the authors attribute rapid diagnosis, before greater viral spread occurs. However, the results do not indicate any inherent superiority of either vidarabine or acyclovir in the treatment of neonatal herpesvirus infection. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Evaluation, Drug therapy, Acyclovir, Antiviral agents, Vidarabine

---

A prospective study of new infections with herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2

Article Abstract:

In a study of 2,393 sexually active people, 155 developed genital herpes, which is caused by herpes simplex type 2 virus (HSV-2). Fifty-seven had symptoms and 15% of those who did not had genital sores. Most of those who had symptoms were correctly diagnosed. Women were more likely to develop genital herpes than men. Nineteen people developed herpes simplex, which is caused by the herpes simplex type 1 virus (HSV-1).

Statistical Data Included, Statistics

Similar abstracts:

• Abstracts: Projection of AIDS morbidity and mortality in San Francisco. Living with AIDS
• Abstracts: Treatment of tuberculosis in patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus infection. part 2 Human immunodeficiency virus infection in tuberculosis patients
• Abstracts: Resuscitation of the newborn. Apnoea, bradycardia, and oxygen saturation in preterm infants. Endotracheal resuscitation of neonates using a rebreathing bag
• Abstracts: Efficacy of bladder training in older women with urinary incontinence. Bladder training in older women with urinary incontinence: relationship between outcome and changes in urodynamic observations
• Abstracts: Lovastatin-induced lupus erythematosus Efficacy and tolerability of lovastatin in 3390 women with moderate hypercholesterolemia

This website is not affiliated with document authors or copyright owners. This page is provided for informational purposes only. Unintentional errors are possible.