New aspects of neonatal herpes.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is a rare but increasingly prevalent agent of newborn infection. Primary or first episode genital infection in the mother constitutes the greatest risk of infection in the neonate. Transplacental, HSV-specific functional antibody appears to protect infants from severe disease and may be therapeutically exploitable. Prevention of serious sequelae in the infant depends on early diagnosis and treatment of HSV-infected infants.