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Herpes in babies

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.

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

Neonatal herpes, which is rare in the UK, is caused by the herpes simplex virus. This virus is very common and causes cold sores and genital ulcers in adults.