Pediatric Herpes Simplex Virus Infection Treatment & Management

  • Author: Swetha G Pinninti, MD; Chief Editor: Russell W Steele, MD   more...
 
Updated: Jan 24, 2012
 

Medical Care

Specific medical therapy of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections involves antiviral medications. Aggressive inpatient and/or intensive medical care is needed in the management of neonatal herpes simplex virus infections, herpes simplex virus encephalitis, and infections in immunocompromised hosts.

In Mollaret meningitis, therapy is primarily symptomatic because symptoms and signs resolve over days.

Therapy of erythema multiforme (EM) generally addresses the dermatologic manifestations and not the viral infection.

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Consultations

Consultation with physicians experienced in caring for seriously ill patients with infectious diseases is recommended for neonatal herpes simplex virus infections, herpes simplex virus encephalitis or disseminated disease, and herpes simplex virus infection in patients who are immunocompromised. Such physicians may include neonatologists, critical care specialists, and infectious diseases physicians.

A consultation with an ophthalmologist is imperative in the management of herpes simplex virus eye infections.

For a child with genital herpes simplex virus infection that is suspected to be a result of child abuse (see the image below), consultation with social services and/or a physician experienced in managing child and/or sexual abuse is warranted.

Cutaneous herpes simplex virus (HSV) lesions in a Cutaneous herpes simplex virus (HSV) lesions in a child in whom sexual abuse is suspected.
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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Swetha G Pinninti, MD  Fellow in Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine

Swetha G Pinninti, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, Infectious Diseases Society of America, and Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Robert W Tolan Jr, MD  Chief, Division of Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital; Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Drexel University College of Medicine

Robert W Tolan Jr, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association, American Society for Microbiology, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, Phi Beta Kappa, and Physicians for Social Responsibility

Disclosure: Novartis Honoraria Speaking and teaching

Specialty Editor Board

Leonard R Krilov, MD  Chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and International Adoption, Vice Chair, Department of Pediatrics, Professor of Pediatrics, Winthrop University Hospital

Leonard R Krilov, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Pediatric Society, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, and Society for Pediatric Research

Disclosure: Medimmune Grant/research funds Cliinical trials; Medimmune Honoraria Speaking and teaching; Medimmune Consulting fee Consulting

Mary L Windle, PharmD  Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Mark R Schleiss, MD  American Legion Chair of Pediatrics, Professor of Pediatrics, Division Director, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota Medical School

Mark R Schleiss, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Pediatric Society, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, and Society for Pediatric Research

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Robert W Tolan Jr, MD  Chief, Division of Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital; Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Drexel University College of Medicine

Robert W Tolan Jr, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Medical Association, American Society for Microbiology, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, Phi Beta Kappa, and Physicians for Social Responsibility

Disclosure: Novartis Honoraria Speaking and teaching

Chief Editor

Russell W Steele, MD  Head, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Ochsner Children's Health Center; Clinical Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Tulane University School of Medicine

Russell W Steele, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association of Immunologists, American Pediatric Society, American Society for Microbiology, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Louisiana State Medical Society, Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society, Society for Pediatric Research, and Southern Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Additional Contributors

The authors and editors of Medscape Reference gratefully acknowledge the contributions of previous author Sherman Alter, MD, to the original writing and development of this article.

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Primary herpes simplex virus (HSV) gingivostomatitis in an infant is shown. This same patient also had concomitant herpes whitlow as shown in Media file 2.
Herpes whitlow in an infant.
Cutaneous herpes simplex virus (HSV) lesions in a child in whom sexual abuse is suspected.
Vesicular scalp lesions caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV) in a 7-day-old infant.
Herpes gladiatorum in an adolescent wrestler.
MRI shows abnormal signal intensity in the left temporal lobe of an 18-year-old man with herpes simplex virus (HSV) encephalitis.
 
 
 
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