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Herpes simplex virus and eye disease in children
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025
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Congenital herpes infection of newborns is associated with infection of the mother's genital tract. The infection is almost always transmitted during childbirth; less frequently, intrauterine infection occurs after rupture of the fetal membranes. General manifestations are characterized by the widespread prevalence of the pathological process and a high mortality rate.
Common manifestations of herpes simplex include:
- skin rash (in almost 100% of cases);
- hepatitis;
- pneumonia;
- encephalitis.
Visual disturbances associated with herpes simplex include:
- acute conjunctivitis and blepharitis with the formation of vesicular rash on the eyelids;
- chorioretinitis;
- uveitis;
- rarely - necrotizing uveitis;
- cataracts.
Most often, the herpes simplex virus affects the cornea, causing acute keratoconjunctivitis, sometimes in a dendritic or stromal form. Peripheral retinitis is much less common.
Diagnosis of eye diseases in children with herpes simplex
The diagnosis is made on the basis of conjunctival scrapings in the area of vesicles, in which the presence of multinucleated giant cells is sought, by culturing the contents of the vesicles and detecting IgM specific antibodies.
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Treatment of eye diseases in children with herpes simplex
In case of general manifestations, acyclovir therapy is administered, the drug being administered intravenously 3 times a day (daily dose - 30 mg/kg of weight). Herpetic keratoconjunctivitis is an indication for the administration of instillations of idoxuridine, acyclovir or triflurothymidine.