Aa
Post Neonatal Herpes
My younger sister had a baby 2 months ago to the day. Just recently she confided in me that she has had herpes for the last 12 years. She unfortunately did not confide in her doctor and had the baby vaginally, while having a recurrent outbreak of a single lesion.
After she told me this I proceded to research online and am very scared for my nephew.
I need to know if he is still at risk for all of the awful symptoms that I read about? Is there a chance that the virus could still present?
I do recall her also saying that an internal fetal monitor was used which i read, increases the chances for infection.
Please help!
I have informed her of the consequences and she is going to tell her pediatrician at the next doctors appt.
After she told me this I proceded to research online and am very scared for my nephew.
I need to know if he is still at risk for all of the awful symptoms that I read about? Is there a chance that the virus could still present?
I do recall her also saying that an internal fetal monitor was used which i read, increases the chances for infection.
Please help!
I have informed her of the consequences and she is going to tell her pediatrician at the next doctors appt.
Hi terry I am very curious about this topic. What happens to the antibody mother passes onto baby? Will the baby test positive in adult years while not actually infected w the virus?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
It is very likely that he would have shown symptoms by now, yes.
The antibody test is also not good in children - shows many false positives, so I wouldn't suggest the child get tested. I think if he shows normal developmental patterns, he is fine.
Terri
The antibody test is also not good in children - shows many false positives, so I wouldn't suggest the child get tested. I think if he shows normal developmental patterns, he is fine.
Terri
I'm thinking your sister is posting about this on the herpes P2P forum too? http://www.medhelp.org/posts/Herpes/2-months-after-birth/show/1788621 I've taken a lot of time to answer her questions so if you haven't read it yet, please do :)
grace
grace
Terri, thank you for responding. Why would they need to watch him for a few years? Why wouldn't he have shown symptoms by now? Is it possible to test after... say a year, when maternal antibodies are no longer present?
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
If the baby seems fine, and has seemed fine throughout the past two months, he likely escaped infection. In the later months of her pregnancy, she passed antibody to her baby, which likely helped to protect him. There are no reliable blood tests for herpes in babies (because they have their mom's antibody). You are correct, the internal monitor presented even more risk. She might be one very lucky mom, and her baby, one very lucky little boy.
Infection in babies whose mom's have herpes already is not common due to the protection based to the baby.
She can discuss this with her pediatrician, but likely there is nothing they will do at this point, except keep a close eye on his development over the next few years. I'm guessing he will be absolutely fine.
Terri
Infection in babies whose mom's have herpes already is not common due to the protection based to the baby.
She can discuss this with her pediatrician, but likely there is nothing they will do at this point, except keep a close eye on his development over the next few years. I'm guessing he will be absolutely fine.
Terri
I also wanted to add that he has had no symptoms whatsoever up to this point. She did say that he was mildly colicky, but I didn't read anything about that being related to herpes.
You are reading content posted in the Herpes Forum
Herpes spreads by oral, vaginal and anal sex.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
STIs are the most common cause of genital sores.
Millions of people are diagnosed with STDs in the U.S. each year.
STDs can't be transmitted by casual contact, like hugging or touching.
Syphilis is an STD that is transmitted by oral, genital and anal sex.
