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Ocular herpes simplex infections in children
Insights
Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection is frequently transmitted within homes to young children. To prevent ocular HSV infections and vision loss, avoid kissing children during a cold sore outbreak.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Ophthalmology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections pose a significant risk to young children.
- Ocular manifestations of HSV can lead to severe visual impairment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To survey HSV hospitalizations in children under 13.
- To identify transmission routes and long-term consequences of ocular HSV infections.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of hospitalized HSV cases.
- Data collected over a 15-year period (1964-1979) at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children.
Main Results:
- 340 non-fatal HSV infections occurred in children under 3, with 63 ocular cases.
- 145 children across all age groups were hospitalized for ocular HSV.
- 15 developed intraocular HSV infection, and 27 had permanent visual acuity reduction (<6/12) before age 13.
Conclusions:
- High HSV transmission rates occur within the home environment, particularly affecting children under 3.
- Preventive measures, such as avoiding kissing during cold sore outbreaks, are crucial.
- Public health messaging, like the hospital's motto, can mitigate HSV transmission and its severe consequences.
Abstract:
A survey of "hospitalised" Herpes simplex infections in otherwise normal healthy children under the age of 13 years over a 15 year period between 1964 and 1979 at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children. This survey highlighted the unnecessarily high transference rate of Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection to the under 3 year old within the home environment. There were three hundred and forty (340) cases of non-fatal "hospitalized" HSV infections in the under 3 year old of which sixty three (63) were ocular infections. Over all age groups one hundred and forty five (145) children were hospitalised on one or several occasions with ocular HSV infection. Of these children before reaching the age of 13 years, fifteen (15) developed intraocular HSV infection and twenty seven (27) had a permanent visual acuity of less than 6/12. As a result of this survey the Princess Margaret Hospital motto for the I.Y.D.P. is: "Cuddle but do not kiss your child when you have an acute coldsore"