Take Care of Yourself –
and Your Baby

Neonatal herpes

In healthy adults, genital herpes can be generally well-managed but in a newborn, the same virus can cause serious and even life-threatening illness.¹

The herpes virus can be given to a baby in a number of ways.

The most likely cause of infection occurs when the baby comes into contact with the virus during delivery. There is also a risk of transmitting the virus to an infant when the mother is unaware of any signs or symptoms of a genital herpes outbreak. The risk of neonatal herpes is greatest in a woman who contracts genital herpes during her pregnancy, particularly if this occurs in the last trimester of pregnancy.¹ 

1. Sacks S. The Truth About Herpes. 4th Ed., 1997. Gordon Soules Book Publishing Ltd. 2. Aoki FY. Canadian Guidelines on Sexually Transmitted Infections 2006 Edition; Genital Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV) Infections. Public Health Agency of Canada http://phac-aspc.gc.ca/std-mts/sti_2006/pdf/sti2006_e.pdf. Accessed May 15, 2006. 3. Jerome KR, Ashley RL (2003). Herpes Simplex Viruses and Herpes B Virus. In: Manual of Clinical Microbiology. Murray PR, Baron EJ, Pfaller MA, et al. Eds., 8th ed., ASM Press, Washington, D.C.:1291-1303. 4. http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/iyh-vsv/diseases-maladies/herpes_e.html

References