Neonatal herpes (herpes in a baby)Overview

Neonatal herpes is a herpes infection in a young baby. The younger the baby, the more vulnerable they are to the harmful effects of infection. It's caused by the herpes simplex virus, a highly contagious virus that can cause cold sores and genital ulcers in adults.

Herpes can be very serious for a young baby, whose immune system will not have fully developed to fight off the virus.

Neonatal herpes is rare in the UK and can be prevented by following some simple advice.

How does a newborn baby catch herpes?

During pregnancy and labour

A newborn baby is at risk of catching herpes if the mother had genital herpes for the first time within the last 6 weeks of her pregnancy.



After birth

The herpes simplex virus can be passed to a baby through a cold sore if a person has a cold sore and kisses the baby.

The herpes virus can also be spread to the baby if a mother has a blister caused by herpes on her breast and she feeds the baby with the affected breast or expressed breast milk from the affected breast.

A baby is most at risk of getting a herpes infection in the first 4 weeks after birth.

You should not kiss a baby if you have a cold sore to reduce the risk of spreading infection.

Cold sores and other blisters caused by the herpes virus are at their most contagious when they burst. They remain contagious until completely healed.

What are the warning signs in babies?


Call a GP or your health visitor straight away if your baby:

These are early warning signs that your baby may be unwell.

Call 999 immediately if your baby:

  • is lacking in energy (listless)
  • is becoming floppy and unresponsive
  • is difficult to wake up from sleep
  • has breathing difficulties or starts grunting
  • breathes rapidly
  • has a blue tongue and skin (cyanosis)

Very often the baby will not have any specific herpes symptoms, such as a rash.

But they can become unwell very quickly, so you need to act fast.

How is neonatal herpes treated?


This treatment may be needed for several weeks.



If the mother is taking antiviral treatment too, this can be excreted in her breast milk, but is not thought to cause any harm to the baby.

How serious is herpes for a baby?



But the condition is much more serious if it's spread to the baby's organs.

Nearly a third of infants with this type of neonatal herpes will die, even after they have been treated. 


How can neonatal herpes be prevented?



Delivery by caesarean section is recommended if the genital herpes has occurred for the first time in the last 6 weeks of your pregnancy.


  • do not kiss any babies
  • wash your hands before contact with a baby
  • wash your hands before breastfeeding

Support and advice if you have been affected

You may find these resources helpful:

Page last reviewed: 27/07/2018
Next review due: 27/07/2021