How do I know if my baby has HSV 1?

Symptoms of HSV Infection in Newborns The first symptom is usually a rash of small, fluid-filled blisters. The blisters can also appear inside the mouth and around the eyes. This close-up of a newborn’s mouth shows sores on and under the upper lip caused by herpes simplex virus.

How does HSV 1 affect babies?

HSV-1 and HSV-2 infection puts newborns at high risk for developing severe and life-threatening symptoms, including: Fatal organ damage, including the liver, lungs, and heart. Serious viral infections, such as viral meningitis. Recurrent sores on the skin, eyes, genitals, or mouth.

Can you have a healthy baby with HSV 1?

While neonatal herpes is a serious condition, it is also very rare. Less than 0.1% of babies born in the United States each year get neonatal herpes. By contrast, some 20-25% of pregnant women have genital herpes. This means that most women with genital herpes give birth to healthy babies.

How long are babies at risk for HSV?

A baby is most at risk of getting a herpes infection in the first 4 weeks after birth. You should not kiss a baby if you have a cold sore to reduce the risk of spreading infection. Cold sores and other blisters caused by the herpes virus are at their most contagious when they burst.

Do I need to worry about HSV-1?

Bottom line: There’s no need to freak out about positive results. There are two types of herpes simplex virus, which can cause painful sores on the mouth and/or genitals. HSV-1 primarily causes sores on the mouth.

What if a mother has HSV-1?

HSV-1 infection in newborns — who can contract the virus from infected mothers during passage through the birth canal — can be severe, causing brain damage or death. Neonatal HSV infection affects an estimated 1 in 3,200 to 1 in 10,000 live births, Leib said.

What does it mean when your HSV-1 IgG is high?

A positive HSV-1 or HSV-2 IgG antibody test means antibodies are present in your blood, which means you have had an infection in the past even if you haven’t noticed any symptoms.

Can you kiss your baby if you have HSV-1?

“People should not be kissing babies if they have any kind of infection,” he said. To prevent HSV-1 infections in babies after birth, the National Institutes of Health says that people with cold sores should not come into contact with newborn infants.