How to Diagnose Infant Herpes Infection

Infant herpes infection can be a serious and possibly life threatening condition that occurs when a newborn has been exposed to herpes during delivery. Herpes infection in infants can cause serious complications, including brain and nerve damage. It is important for the health of the baby that they are diagnosed early on.

Instructions

• 1

  Figure out if the baby has been exposed to the herpes virus. It is important to let your doctors and nurses know if you have been previously diagnosed with the herpes virus. Most transmission cases occur when the mother does not know that she has herpes.

• 2

  Consider the time frame. Since the infection of the herpes will occur during delivery, your baby may not become symptomatic until she is several weeks old.

• 3

  Notice the baby's disposition. An active baby that becomes infected with herpes becomes listless and lethargic. He may become irritable for no apparent reason and lose his appetite.

• 4

  Expect the baby to become ill quickly if she has the herpes virus. Herpes infection in infants can cause jaundice, vomiting and difficulty breathing.

• 5

  Look for skin lesions. A newborn that has been exposed to the herpes virus may or may not have sores on the area of the body that came into contact with the virus.

• 6

  Have the baby evaluated by a pediatrician. He can check for other possible causes of the symptoms and run a series of tests to determine if it is the herpes virus. Blood and urine analyses will likely be conducted.