[Acquired neonatal herpes].

The authors report a case of neonatal herpes simplex infection with favourable outcome, without any sign of meningo-encephalitis or dissemination. The child was given antiviral treatment with Acyclovir from the first day of rash. Vesicle scraping and a complete serologic study of both child and mother proved infection was due to herpes simplex virus type I, transmitted to the neonate during primary maternal infection with gingivostomatitis beginning on the day of delivery. The different routes of postnatal contamination of the neonate by herpes virus and the risks of dissemination are reviewed. The importance of preventing contamination and dissemination of a known herpetic infection in maternity-hospitals and in nurseries for newborns is emphasized. Antiviral treatment should be used in all neonates with localized herpetic infection.