What is the key treatment for neonatal herpes?

The most effective treatment for neonatal herpes is the use of an intravenous antiviral agent such as acyclovir. This is crucial because herpes simplex virus can cause severe illness in neonates, including neurological damage, disseminated disease, or even death. Acyclovir works by inhibiting viral DNA synthesis, thus effectively reducing the viral load and preventing the progression of the disease.

Treatment is typically initiated promptly upon diagnosis to achieve the best possible outcomes, particularly because the immune systems of neonates are underdeveloped and cannot effectively fight off a viral infection on their own. Intravenous administration allows for rapid distribution of the medication throughout the body, ensuring that even systemic infections can be effectively treated.

While oral antiviral medication may be beneficial in some cases of less severe herpes simplex virus infections in older children and adults, it is not the first-line treatment for newborns who present with symptoms of herpes. Similarly, antibiotics are ineffective against viral infections such as herpes, and topical corticosteroids are not suitable for the treatment of viral infections in neonates either, as they do not address the underlying viral pathology and could potentially worsen the infection by modulating the immune response.