Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 11, 2026
04:56
Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA) Placement in a Neonatal Patient Simulator Using a Non-Inflatable Supraglottic Airway (SGA)
Published on: July 14, 2023
Neonatal herpes simplex 2 infection presenting with supraglottitis.
Nicholas W Machin1, David Morgan, Andrew J Turner
1Departments of Virology, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK. Nicholas.Machin@cmft.nhs.uk
Archives of Disease in Childhood
|May 28, 2013
Summary
Neonatal herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection can present unusually with supraglottitis. Even after prolonged antiviral treatment, infants may develop encephalitis, underscoring the need for cerebrospinal fluid testing and potentially longer suppressive therapy.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Neonatal Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a common double-stranded DNA virus.
- HSV can cause primary and recurrent infections in neonates.
- Neonatal HSV infections require prompt diagnosis and management.
Observation:
- An unusual case of neonatal HSV-2 infection presented with supraglottitis.
- The infant received a 2-month course of intravenous aciclovir followed by 2 months of oral valaciclovir.
- Despite treatment, the infant later developed HSV-2 encephalitis.
Findings:
- The encephalitis responded to further antiviral treatment.
- Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis is crucial for diagnosing central nervous system (CNS) involvement in neonates with HSV.
- This case suggests potential benefits of extended suppressive antiviral therapy.
Implications:
- Highlights the importance of comprehensive diagnostic evaluation for neonatal HSV.
- Emphasizes the need for vigilant monitoring for CNS complications.
- Suggests that prolonged or suppressive antiviral therapy may be beneficial in select cases of neonatal HSV-2 infection.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Tonsillitis II: Management
This lesson will focus on the different treatment options for managing tonsillitis, which typically depend on the cause and severity.
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...
01:27Cytomegalovirus 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...
01:30Acute Pharyngitis
Introduction
Acute pharyngitis is the inflammation of the back of the throat (pharynx), commonly resulting in a sore throat. It is a frequently encountered condition that prompts individuals to seek medical advice.
Classification
Acute pharyngitis can be categorized based on its underlying cause:
Acute pharyngitis is the inflammation of the back of the throat (pharynx), commonly resulting in a sore throat. It is a frequently encountered condition that prompts individuals to seek medical advice.
Classification
Acute pharyngitis can be categorized based on its underlying cause:
01:30Tonsillitis I: Introduction
Tonsillitis is inflammation of the tonsils, which are two lymphoid tissue masses at the back of the throat. This condition can cause discomfort and irritation in the throat.
Etiology
Three primary contributing factors have been identified.
Etiology
Three primary contributing factors have been identified.
01:28Diphtheria
Diphtheria is an acute, toxin-mediated infectious disease that primarily affects the upper respiratory tract. It is caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, a Gram-positive, pleomorphic rod that lacks spore-forming capability and exhibits a characteristic club-shaped morphology under microscopic examination. While C. diphtheriae can asymptomatically colonize mucosal surfaces, clinical disease manifests only when the bacterial strain is lysogenized by a specific β-corynephage. This phage...