Neonatal herpes simplex virus encephalitis with intracranial bleeding in a newborn baby with concurrent rhesus incompatibility

BMJ Case Rep. 2024 Mar 8;17(3):e255822. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2023-255822.

Abstract

We report a baby with neonatal herpes simplex virus (HSV) encephalitis concurrent with Rrhesus (Rh) incompatibility. He was delivered by a Ggravida 2 mother with a history of miscarriage in her previous pregnancy at a gestation age of 4 months. She had Bblood group 0 and Rrhesus negative. The baby was noticed to have jaundice on day one1 of life accompanied by generalised petechiae on the face and upper chest. A full blood picture revealed severe anaemia and severe thrombocytopaenia and HSV 1/2 IgM was positive. MRI of the brain showed multiple extensive haemorrhagic lesions on the frontal-temporal regions.

Keywords: Haematology (incl blood transfusion); Infection (neurology); Neonatal intensive care; Neuroimaging.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Encephalitis, Herpes Simplex* / complications
  • Female
  • Herpes Simplex* / complications
  • Herpes Simplex* / diagnosis
  • Herpes Simplex* / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Male
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious* / diagnosis
  • Simplexvirus

Supplementary concepts

  • Neonatal herpes