Most HSV infections in newborns are caused by HSV-2 that the infant catches from the mother’s birth canal.
Newborns can sometimes get HSV-1 from close contact with someone who is shedding HSV-1 virus in their saliva or has an active HSV-1 outbreak (cold sores)
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What are the symptoms of HSV infection?
Most people with HSV-1 can shed it in their saliva with no symptoms, or they may have a cold sore: a small fluid filled skin blister which breaks open, crusts over, and disappears in about 21 days.
Infected newborns may have mild symptoms at first, such as low grade fever (100.4 degrees F., or more, rectally), poor feeding, or one or more small skin blisters. This can happen two to 12 days after HSV exposure. If any of these occur, notify your doctor immediately.
Newborns can become very sick quickly with high fever and seizures, and may become lethargic (floppy).
HSV infection in newborns can be very severe and can even cause death.