[Recurrent cutaneous herpes in the newborn and acyclovir].

Abstract

The authors report two cases of cutaneous recurrent herpes occurring after a neonatal herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV2) infection and comment on the role of acute or suppressive therapy by aciclovir (ACV). The two infants were not treated by ACV after the neonatal period. None of the recurrent cutaneous herpes episodes was followed by viral widespread. One case reported by Bergström et al on a relapse of HSV2 encephalitis occurring after a cutaneous herpes in a child argues for the use of ACV in recurrent herpes. However, ACV might alter host defense response to HSV2 infection in neonates and children. Thus, it seems not yet recommended to use ACV either as acute or suppressive therapy in recurrent cutaneous herpes unless a progression of the viral disease is noted.