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| *Women health>>>Genital Herpes |
Does anyone have any info on a virus called herpes meningitis? not caused by genital herpes though? |
my friend's daughter suffered herpes meningitis when she was 6 months old they told her that herpes wasnt a genital herpes this type of herpes was a virus that the baby inhaled, could that be possible?so now the baby that is now 2 yrs old suffers zeizures every day could that be normal??? While there are many different strains of herpes virus, by far the most common is HSV1, typically cold sore type and HSV2 usually genital. This is not to say that you could not get an HSV2 outbreak on your face or HSV1 around your genitals but the above is typical. Either can cause meningits, and as has been stated, the term "meningitis" only refers to the disease and not the viral or bacterial cause. HSV2 usually effects newborns as it is acquired passing though the birth canal but as in the case of your friend's daughter, if herpes is to blame, HSV1 is often the culprit. Typically caught by mouth contact with someone or someone with active lesions touching their own mouth and then yours or some other of your mucous membranes. And yes, sadly this can be a devastating disease, many children have even worse outcomes; seizures are very common. Developmental delay is also very common and their pediatrician can, if they haven't already, get them in touch with therapists help keep the effects or the potential effects from becoming a problem. Good luck to your friend, your friend is lucky to have someone close who cares, God Bless, robnshrn Pediatric MD Herpes Meningitis. Herpes meningitis, an inflammation of the membranes that line the brain and spinal cord, occurs in 4% to 8% of cases of primary genital HSV-2. Women are at higher risk for it than men are. Symptoms include headache, fever, stiff neck, vomiting, and sensitivity to light. Fortunately, herpes meningitis usually resolves without complications. The condition generally lasts for two to seven days, although recurrences have been reported. http://www.umm.edu/patiented/articles/ho... Herpes Zooster is a virus which generally infects nerve routes & heals up after 5 to 7 days. I have never heard of Herpes menegitis but in USA doctors commonly say this. Her Seizure must be checked it might be epilepsy. So get an E.E.G done by a qulified doctor. Than it will be cured if treated for at least 2yrs. Unfortunately meningitis can result in neurological sequelae in survivors, including epilepsy. In infants, it is generally the result of reactivation of infection from the mother. Below is a link that may be of use. Hope this helps. http://www.umm.edu/patiented/articles/ho... Herpes Meningitis. Herpes meningitis, an inflammation of the membranes that line the brain and spinal cord, occurs in up to 10% of cases of primary genital HSV-2. Women are at higher risk for it than men are. Symptoms include headache, fever, stiff neck, vomiting, and sensitivity to light. Fortunately, herpes meningitis usually resolves without complications, lasting for only two to seven days, although recurrences have been reported. Herpes in the Pregnant Woman and the Newborn HSV can cause serious complications in both the mother and the child. It should be noted, however, that each year about one million women infected with HSV-2 become pregnant, but complications occur in less than one in a thousand of them. Effect of HSV on the Pregnant Woman Pregnant women who are infected with either HSV-2 or HSV-1 genital herpes have a higher risk for miscarriage, premature labor, retarded fetal growth, or transmission of the HSV infection to the infant while in the uterus or at the time of delivery. One study also suggested a link between HSV-2 infection in mothers and the subsequent development of schizophrenia and other forms of psychoses in their adult offspring, although further study is needed. Recurrence in women previously infected with HSV is also common during pregnancy. Approach to the Pregnant HSV Patient. The approach to a pregnant woman who has been infected by either HSV-1 or 2 in the genital area is usually determined by when the infection was acquired and the mother's condition around the time of delivery: If lesions are present at the time of birth, Cesarean section is usually recommended. An important 13-year study confirmed that this approach helps prevent transmission. In the study the baby became infected in only 1.1% of Cesarean sections compared to 7.7% of vaginal deliveries. (Even a Cesarean section is no guarantee that the child will be HSV-free and the newborn must still be tested.) If lesions erupt shortly before the baby is due then samples must be taken and sent to the laboratory. Samples are cultured to detect the virus at three- to five-day intervals prior to delivery to ascertain whether viral shedding is occurring. If no lesions are present and cultures indicate no viral shedding, the delivery is normal and the newborn is examined and cultured after delivery. The safety of acyclovir and other agents used to treat herpes in nonpregnant patients is unproven. These drugs, then, are generally not used during pregnancy for either primary infection or to prevent recurrences unless the HSV infection is life threatening. Some physicians, however, recommend suppression therapy during late pregnancy for patients with a known history of genital herpes. Small studies to date indicate that acyclovir does not harm the fetus under these circumstances, although it is also not completely protective against recurrence. (Evidence has also not found any higher risk for birth defects in the unborn child if the mother has been taking acyclovir in early pregnancy.) In general, however, evidence supporting anti-viral suppression treatment during pregnancy is not strong and the risks are still unknown. How HSV is Transmitted to Newborns Although 25% to 30% of pregnant women in the US and Europe have a history of HSV-2 infection, the risk of transmission to the newborn is low, occurring in between one in 3,500 to 20,000 births depending on the population group. The greatest danger to the baby is from an asymptomatic infection during a vaginal delivery in women who acquired the virus for the first time late in the pregnancy. In such cases, between 30% and 50% of the newborns become infected. Recurring herpes or a first infection that is acquired early in the pregnancy poses a much lower risk (less than 1%) to the infant. The reasons for the higher risk with a late primary infection are the following: During a first infection the virus is shed for longer periods and more viral particles are excreted. An infection that first occurs in the late term does not allow the mother to develop antibodies that would help her baby fight off the infection at the time of delivery. The risk for transmission also increases if infants with infected mothers are born prematurely, if there is invasive monitoring, or if instruments are required during vaginal delivery. Transmission can occur if the amniotic membrane of an infected woman ruptures prematurely, or as the infant passes through an infected birth canal. Very rarely, the virus is transmitted across the placenta, a form of the infection known as congenital herpes. Unfortunately, only 5% of infected pregnant women have a history of symptoms, so in many cases HSV infection is not suspected or symptoms are missed at the time of delivery. Occasionally, lesions on the mother's buttocks may help indicate the presence of the virus. Effects of HSV in the Newborn HSV infection in a newborn is a very serious and even-life threatening condition if it goes undiagnosed and untreated. Fortunately, since the introduction of acyclovir the outlook for these children has significantly improved. In general, there are three categories of HSV in the newborn: Localized infection affects the skin, eyes, and mucous membranes. This condition is usually caused by HSV-1 and is temporary. However, in some cases, most often HSV-2 infections, later complications develop in between 5% and 10% of infants. If untreated, it may progress to very severe complications, notably disseminated or central nervous system infection. Disseminated disease can affect internal organs, such as the liver, the lungs, and the adrenal glands. It is fatal in up to 80% of newborns if left untreated and those who survive are at high risk for complications, particularly in the eyes. If infants are treated, however, survival rates are close to 90%. Central nervous system infection can cause meningitis or encephalitis. This form is also highly fatal and complications that affect learning and mental functions are common in surviving children. Factors that Indicate a Higher Risk for Severe Complications: Acute infection in the mother at delivery. Prematurity. Seizures in the infant. Disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, a blood clotting disorder that can occur in response to infection. Factors that Indicate a Lower Risk for Severe Complications: Newborn infection caused by a recurring HSV-2 infection in the mother. (Mothers with such infections appear to pass along protective antibodies to the newborn. It should be noted that antibodies to HSV-1 do not appear to offer similar protection to the newborn.) Newborn infections that are confined to the skin and do not cause frequent outbreaks within the first six months. Tests for the Newborn at Risk for HSV. Any newborn with an infected or high-risk mother should be tested and checked carefully for symptoms. (Experts are divided, however, over whether the high cost of testing mothers specifically for HSV before delivery, even in high-risk groups, is worth the benefit for such a small group of mothers and infants.) In the asymptomatic newborn delivered from an infected mother, cultures should be taken between 24 and 48 hours after birth. A culture taken right at the time of delivery may give a false indication of infection in the baby, simply because it can carry some of the mother's virus from the birth canal. Testing specimens for viral DNA using a test called polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is proving to be very important in newborns, particularly when central nervous system infection is suspected, since it eliminates the need for brain biopsies. While results are pending, the baby should be checked regularly for rashes and blisters, particularly in areas where the skin is broken, along with any signs of illness including fever, lethargy, respiratory distress, and poor feeding. Symptoms of HSV in the Newborn. Although treatments have improved the outlook of infected newborns, there has been little change over the past 20 years in the time between the onset of symptoms and the initiation of treatments. Physicians and parents should be suspicious of any signs if there is any risk of infection to the newborn. When symptoms occur in newborns, they usually become apparent within five to 17 days of life, but they may develop as early as 24 hours or as late as 34 days. An unstable temperature can be the first indication of the infection. About half of infected infants develop a rash. Lesions may range from raised spots to large isolated blisters. They can be anywhere on the skin or eyes or in the mouth. The other half of infected infants does not develop lesions until later in the course of the infection. The absence of lesions, therefore, in high-risk infants should not be considered a guarantee that HSV has not been transmitted. Other symptoms to watch for include irritability, blotchy skin, discharge in the eyes, sensitivity to light, tearing, lethargy, jaundice, pallor, coughing, rapid breathing, a swollen abdomen (enlarged spleen), seizures, or tremors. Infection should be suspected in any infant with fever, irritability, lethargy, or poor feeding at one week of age. Treatment of HSV in the Newborn. If HSV infection in a newborn infant is suspected, intravenous acyclovir treatment should begin immediately, since the potential dangers of the condition far outweigh any risks associated with the drug. (The newer agents valacyclovir and famciclovir offer no additional advantage.) Vidarabine (Vira-A) is sometimes used as an alternative to acyclovir, but it is much less effective and should be used only if the baby is resistant to acyclovir. The following are recommendations for treating infants who have been infected or are at risk for infection: If disseminated or central nervous system infection has developed or is suspected, intravenous acyclovir treatment should continue for 21 days. If the infection is limited to the skin, eyes, or mouth and the infant is at low risk for more serious complications, treatment may be given for 10 to 14 days. |
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