Diagnosis | Herpes in babies – How dangerous is it?

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of herpes infection is a gaze diagnosis for most babies. The small blisters on the face, mouth or genital area are often very easy to recognize. If babies show symptoms that support the suspicion of a herpes infection, they can be isolated by blood tests, swabs from the mouth and throat or the fluid in the blisters, or a cerebrospinal fluid puncture. If a pregnant woman becomes infected and there is a possibility that the virus could be transmitted to the unborn child, an amniocentesis may be necessary to detect the virus. If there is a suspicion in newborns that the herpes pathogen has infected the brain and led to encephalitis, this can be checked by liquor puncture or by MRI and EEG.

Treatment/Therapy

A therapy that leads to the complete destruction of the herpes virus is not known. Likewise, there is no vaccine available that can prevent infection with the virus. Since the virus remains in the body even after the symptoms have subsided, a new outbreak can occur at any time if the body’s immune system weakens again or in stressful situations.

If the course of the herpes infection is mild, only the symptoms such as fever, itching and skin symptoms are treated. If the virus spreads via the blood and a herpes sepsis develops or other internal organs are affected and infected, an antiviral therapy via the vein is necessary for 2-3 weeks. The pathogenic viruses are thus prevented from further multiplication.

As an antiviral medication, acyclovir is usually used. This relieves pain and itching, prevents the viruses from multiplying further and is intended to minimize possible consequential damage as far as possible. The decisive condition for the treatment of severe herpes infections is the initiation of treatment within the first 24 hours after the onset of symptoms.

Therefore, in the case of encephalitis, an antiviral therapy must be initiated as soon as a suspected infection is detected. If it turns out that herpes encephalitis is not present after all, the antiviral therapy can be stopped immediately. Only in a few cases is herpes treated with locally acting drugs. This is particularly the case if the eyes are involved, such as conjunctivitis, which is treated with an ointment of acyclovir or other antiviral agents.