Infantile vesicular rash

Neonatal rashes are common but can cause significant anxiety and concern to parents and health professionals. Most often these rashes are benign and parents need to be reassured. It is important to be aware of the uncommon but potentially serious rashe seen in the neonatal period such as neonatal herpes, inconentia pigmentii. Neonatal herpes is one of the most serious perinatal infections and is commonly caused by infected maternal genital secretions at the time of birth. The outcome of an untreated herpes infection can be devastating as high incidence of mortality is recorded in disseminated herpes and herpes encephalitis infections. Midwifery staff can help in the detection of asymptomatic herpes cases in pregnant women by taking a detailed history of previous herpes infections, as viral shredding is known to occur in such cases. Presented here is a case of neonatal herpes skin, eye and mucosa syndrome which, at times, can cause a diagnostic challenge and delay as was seen in this case..