# Challenges for early diagnosis of neonatal herpes infection in Japan

## TL;DR

This study analyzed the low incidence of neonatal herpes in Japan and found no common maternal symptoms across cases.

## Contribution

The study provides updated prevalence data and highlights the lack of consistent maternal symptoms for neonatal herpes in Japan.

## Key findings

- The incidence of neonatal herpes in Japan is about 1 in 140,000 live births.
- No consistent maternal symptoms were identified across neonatal herpes cases.
- Data was collected from 1,371 out of 2,078 Japanese obstetrical facilities.

## Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the recent prevalence of neonatal herpes simplex virus infection, maternal symptoms in the presence of neonate who has herpes simplex virus infection, and mode of delivery in Japan.

We requested 2.078 obstetrical facilities that are members of the Japan Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (JAOG) to provide information on neonatal herpes simplex virus infection involving deliveries at or after 22 weeks of gestation between 2020 and 2022. Of these, 1.371 (66.0%) facilities responded with information that could undergo statistical analysis.

There were 10 cases of neonatal herpes simplex virus infection, and the incidence of neonatal herpes simplex virus infection in Japan was about 1 in 1.4 × 105 live births. There were no characteristic maternal findings common to cases of neonatal herpes simplex virus infection.

The incidence of neonatal herpes simplex virus infection in Japan was low. We could not identify any characteristic maternal findings common to cases of neonatal herpes simplex virus infection.