Fatal pneumonia following maternal HSV-1 viraemia in late pregnancy

Abstract

Neonatal Herpes simplex virus (HSV) pneumonia without apparent accompanying disseminated infection is a rare condition. We describe a case of neonatal pneumonia following maternal HSV type 1 viraemia in late pregnancy. A review of the literature shows that cases of HSV presenting as pneumonia in the first week of life are the most severe form of neonatal HSV.

• Disseminated infection
• early-onset sepsis
• herpes simplex virus
• newborn infant
• pneumonia

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the parents of the baby who strongly supported the description of this case so that in the future it may serve for a timely diagnosis of this rare condition.

Declaration of interest

The authors report that they have no conflicts of interest relevant to this article to disclose. No honorarium, grant, or other form of payment was not given to any of the authors to produce the manuscript.