[Intrauterine herpes simplex virus infection]
T Hoppen1, A M Eis-Hübinger, R L Schild
1Zentrum für Kinderheilkunde, Abt. für Neonatologie, Universität Bonn.
Klinische Padiatrie
|April 18, 2001
Summary
Early fetal herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection can lead to severe congenital abnormalities and poor outcomes. Prompt maternal antiviral therapy is crucial to prevent materno-fetal transmission and improve infant survival rates.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Neonatology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Early fetal herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection is a rare and often fatal condition.
- Limited documentation exists regarding fetal survival following early intrauterine HSV exposure.
Observation:
- A pregnant woman with a primary genital HSV-2 infection at 19 weeks gestation received local interferon beta treatment.
- Ultrasonography at 34 weeks revealed fetal hydrocephalus, microcephaly, and microphthalmia.
- A neonate born small-for-gestational-age presented with microcephaly, skin lesions, hepatosplenomegaly, microphthalmia, and neurological abnormalities.
Findings:
- Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) was confirmed in amniotic fluid, placental tissue, and neonatal swabs.
- The infant exhibited severe central nervous system dysfunction, including encephalomalacia and cerebral seizures.
- The neonate succumbed to respiratory and circulatory failure at 9 months of age.
Implications:
- This case highlights the severe consequences of early intrauterine HSV-2 infection.
- Early diagnosis and maternal antiviral treatment, such as aciclovir, are critical to prevent materno-fetal transmission.
- Consideration of systemic maternal therapy is essential when primary genital HSV-2 infection is suspected during pregnancy.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Sexually Transmitted Infections
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are diseases transmitted primarily through unsafe sexual interactions. Bacteria, viruses, or parasites cause them and can result in severe health complications if untreated.ChlamydiaThe bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis is responsible for the disease Chlamydia, the most common STI in the United States. This peculiar pathogen requires human cells to reproduce, residing intracellularly. The initial infection often goes unnoticed because it typically does not...
01:21Intrauterine Drug Delivery Systems
Controlled-release systems for intravaginal and intrauterine drug delivery have been developed primarily for the administration of contraceptive steroid hormones. These delivery routes circumvent first-pass hepatic metabolism, thereby enhancing bioavailability and allowing for reduced systemic dosages compared to oral administration. Such approaches contribute to improved therapeutic efficacy and patient compliance, particularly in long-term contraceptive regimens.Intravaginal Drug Delivery...
01:28Herpes
Herpes simplex type 1 (HSV‑1) is a widespread pathogen responsible for orolabial lesions. It is an enveloped, double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) virus belonging to the family Herpesviridae. Once the virus infects a host cell, its double‑stranded DNA genome is delivered into the nucleus, where a coordinated cascade of immediate‑early, early, and late gene expression directs viral DNA replication, structural protein synthesis, and virion assembly. After primary infection of epithelial cells, HSV-1...
01:20Chickenpox
Chickenpox is an acute, highly contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus (VZV), a double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the Herpesviridae family. Its transmission occurs primarily through the inhalation of respiratory droplets or direct contact with vesicular fluid from skin lesions. The incubation period typically ranges from 10 to 21 days, during which the virus replicates and disseminates through sequential phases within the host. Although generally self-limiting in children,...
01:27Cytomegalovirus Disease
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease is caused by human cytomegalovirus, a double-stranded DNA virus of the Herpesviridae family. While primary CMV infection is often asymptomatic in immunocompetent individuals, the virus can cause severe disease in neonates and immunocompromised patients. CMV is the most common cause of congenital viral infection in the United States, and a major pathogen in solid organ and hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.CMV is transmitted via bodily fluids, sexual...
01:23Genital Herpes
Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection primarily caused by herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), though herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is increasingly implicated in genital infections, particularly among younger populations. Transmission occurs mainly through sexual contact, with asymptomatic viral shedding serving as a major route of spread. This characteristic makes HSV-2 difficult to control at a population level, as individuals may unknowingly transmit the virus even in the...