Joint British Association for Sexual Health and HIV and Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists national UK guideline for the management of herpes simplex virus in pregnancy and the neonate (2024 update): a review of neonatal aspects of guidance

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) in pregnancy is important for all those treating neonates across neonatal, maternity and paediatric settings. There is a risk of neonatal transmission in the genital tract or postnatally, and HSV has the potential for serious sequelae in neonates. HSV mortality is estimated at 29% for disseminated disease, 4% for central nervous system (CNS) disease and 0% for isolated skin, eye and mouth (SEM) disease. Among survivors, 17% of those with disseminated disease, 31% of those with CNS disease and 2% of those with SEM are estimated to have neurodevelopmental complications.1