Abstract
A 17-d-old girl was diagnosed with disseminated herpes simplex virus-1 infection-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. The virus was detected in the neonate’s blood and mandible. The neonate was treated with dexamethasone and acyclovir and discharged without neurological sequelae. The mother had no history of a herpes simplex virus-1 infection and did not have visible genital herpetic lesions; moreover, the neonate was delivered via an elective cesarean section. However, the day before the delivery, the mother had met with the neonate’s grandmother, who had herpes labialis. Viral DNA was detected in bilateral breast milk samples; however, no superficial herpetic lesions were noted on both breasts. The authors speculated that the neonate may have acquired the infection via contaminated breast milk. Thus far, only one neonatal case of this infection contracted via breast milk has been reported. Further studies on breast milk as a transmission route for these infections are required.
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YT collected the data and drafted and revised the initial manuscript; YF, TO, YK, KF, YS, and SY interpreted all the data and critically revised the manuscript for important intellectual content. All the authors approved the final manuscript and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work. YF will act as the guarantor for this paper.
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Takagi, Y., Fujita, Y., Otaka, T. et al. Postpartum Neonatal Disseminated Herpes Simplex Virus-1 Infection in Which Herpes Simplex Virus-1 Was Detected in Mother's Breast Milk. Indian J Pediatr 90, 510–512 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-022-04462-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12098-022-04462-z