NEONATAL herpesvirus hominis (simplex) (HV) infection is generally belived to result in fatal systemic disease. Since the first description of neonatal HV infection in 1935,1 we are aware of 66 reported patients, eight of whom have survived.2-8
This report describes three infants who, at birth, had nonvesicular cutaneous lesions which may have represented the first manifestation of their HV infection. All three survived and had recurrent crops of vesicular lesions during the period of observation. Herpesvirus hominis was isolated from vesicular fluid on one occasion in each patient.
Report of Cases
Case 1.—Hospital Course.—A female infant (LACGH PF# 242-04-92) weighing 1,943 gm (4 lb 1 ounce) was born after 33 weeks of gestation to a gravida 1, Rh negative white woman. The only abnormality noted during pregnancy was mild intermittent vaginal bleeding for one month prior to delivery. Small red patches were reported on the