Birth-acquired herpes - Overview

Definition of Birth-acquired herpes:

Birth-acquired herpes is a herpes virus infection that an infant gets (acquires) at the time of birth.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Newborn infants can become infected with herpes virus:

• In the uterus (intrauterine herpes -- this is very rare)
• Passing through the birth canal (birth-acquired herpes, the most common method of infection)
• Right after birth (postpartum)

If the mother has an active genital herpes infection at the time of delivery, the infant is more likely to become infected during the birthing process. It is possible for a mother with a first-time (primary) herpes infection to pass the virus to her child during birth.

In addition, some people have had herpes infections in the past, but have not been diagnosed or treated. These people, not knowing that they have it themselves, may pass herpes on to their child. Herpes type 2 (genital herpes) is the most common cause of herpes infection in newborn babies, but herpes type 1 can also occur.