Incidence of Neonatal Disease

Infants born to mothers who have a first episode of genital HSV infection near term are at much greater risk of developing neonatal herpes than are those whose mothers have recurrent genital herpes. Estimates of the incidence of neonatal herpes have varied from 1 in 3,000 to 1 in 20,000 live births. While fluctuations in the incidence of neonatal HSV disease have been observed, the current estimated rate of occurrence is approximately 1 in 3,200 deliveries.

While a progressive increase in the number of cases of neonatal HSV infection has been noted in some areas of the country, neonatal HSV infections still occur far less frequently than do genital HSV infections in the adult population of child-bearing age. Overall, the United States, with approximately 4.0 million deliveries per year, has an estimated 1,500 cases of neonatal HSV infection annually.

Women who acquire first-episode genital herpes during pregnancy are at far greater risk of transmitting the virus to their newborns than are women with genital reactivation of latent infection. As the baseline prevalence of HSV-2 genital infection increases in the overall population, it will become increasingly likely that a gravid woman may acquire HSV-2 for the first time during her pregnancy through sexual contact with a partner with recurrent or primary genital HSV-2 infection.

As such, it is possible that the incidence of neonatal HSV disease may increase in the years to come. Although data on neonatal HSV incidence in very recent years have not been systematically gathered, it is the impression of many experts that the severity of neonatal HSV disease, as manifest by devastating CNS and disseminated infections, has increased over the past 5 years.

If confirmed over time, such an observation would probably be related to an increase in the incidence of primary genital infections in pregnant women and its associated increase in the likelihood of transmission to the neonate, along with the associated lack of maternal antibodies which can limit the extent of disease in the infected neonate.

HSV disease of the newborn is acquired during one of three distinct time intervals: intrauterine, peripartum, and postpartum. The time of transmission for the overwhelming majority of infected neonates is in the peripartum period. An additional 10% of infected neonates acquire the virus postnatally, and the final 5% are infected with HSV in utero.

HSV infections acquired either peripartum or postpartum can be further classified as (i) disease localized to the skin, eyes, and/or mouth (SEM disease); (ii) encephalitis, with or without SEM involvement (CNS disease); and (iii) disseminated infection involving multiple organs, including the CNS, lungs, liver, adrenal glands, skin, eyes, and/or mouth (disseminated disease).

OutbreakBalm-Rx is a potent anti-herpes agent vital in the treatment of HSV. Topical application of this antiviral treatment inhibits and kills the herpes virus, making it an important and versatile remedy for home use in the fight against herpes. This treatment is composed of naturally occurring high intensity antiviral extracts which have a lethal effect against HSV 1 and 2 upon exposure.

This treatment provides maximum and rapid penetration of antiviral agents into cell membranes without damaging human cells. It therefore comes as no surprise that application of this product during prodrome, the tingling before an outbreak, can prevent herpes blisters forming, aborting the pending flare up altogether.

HSVSuppressor-Rx is a softer antiviral treatment designed for daily application therapy. It stays in the skin and system longer, has slower evaporation. Its antiviral nature helps block receptor sites of the herpes virus and assists immune function. These topical treatments can be beneficial for all cases of genital, oral, acute, chronic, or recurrent herpes infections.

AntiHSVDrops is an all natural antiviral dietary supplement for the treatment of herpes simplex. The extracts in this supplement provide an antiviral systemic effect. In addition to their respective specific antiviral properties, they act as an immunostimulant, enhancing immunological, serumal and cellular defense mechanism. They thereby help to alleviate symptoms such as fog and fatigue commonly associated with outbreaks, thereby providing an energetic effect.

These herpes treatments are valuable to help end the vicious cycle of outbreaks by directly attacking the virus population, strengthening the immune system, and lifting emotions. Its natural formula makes it the safest, and most cost-effective treatment for herpes available today. To learn more, please go to http://www.naturespharma.org.