Neonatal herpes in Serbia: Is it a problem or not?

Abstract

With 20-80% mortality, neonatal infection caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV) or neonatal herpes is among the most severe of all perinatal infections. The majority of neonatal HSV infections are acquired during delivery, although in utero and postnatal infections do occur. Primary maternal infection is associated with a high rate of transmission (∼50%), compared to <3% in infants of women with reactivated disease. Other factors that influence transmission include HSV type, premature delivery, etc. Clinical manifestations have been classified into three forms: skin-eye-mouth disease, CNS and disseminated disease. The diagnosis of neonatal HSV infection includes the detection of HSV DNA by PCR in samples from neonate and mother. The incidence of neonatal herpes differs widely between different countries. In Serbia, the data about neonatal herpes incidence are scarce. The results of our pilot study showed that the minimal estimation of the national incidence of neonatal herpes is 7.5 per 100 000. Therefore, the set up and implementation of a national neonatal herpes surveillance system might provide valuable information for the accurate assessment of disease burden and development of an effective prevention strategy in Serbia.