Incidence of Neonatal Herpes Simplex Virus Infections in U.S. 15.7 Per 100,000 Births in 2019
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
TUESDAY, April 15, 2025 -- The incidence of neonatal herpes simplex virus (nHSV) infections in the United States in 2019 was 15.7 per 100,000 hospital births, according to a study published online April 14 in Pediatrics.
Matthew Pooser, from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, and colleagues estimated the incidence, costs, and fatality of nHSV in 2019 by assessing a nationally representative sample of U.S. pediatric discharges using data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Kids' Inpatient Database. Estimates were generated overall and by sociodemographic factors. Cases were estimated among infants aged 28 days or younger admitted to the hospital.
The researchers identified an estimated 561 nHSV cases in the United States in 2019, for an incidence rate of 15.7 per 100,000 hospital births. The incidence rate was highest in the South (21.3) and among infants born to Black birth parents (27.3). The estimated total cost to the U.S. health care system was $28.9 million. Among infants with nHSV, the case fatality rate was estimated to be 4.6 percent.
"We found an increase in the incidence of nHSV and costs to the health care system compared with past estimates; however, the case fatality rate did not substantially change," the authors write. "Our findings also highlight racial and geographic disparities."
Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)
Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted April 2025
Read this next
Study Estimates Global Burden of Vertically Transmitted Hepatitis C
TUESDAY, Aug. 5, 2025 -- Each year, nearly 74,000 children are born with hepatitis C virus (HCV) around the world, according to a study published online July 23 in The Lancet...
Preconception Hypoglycemia Linked to Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes
MONDAY, Aug. 4, 2025 -- Preconception hypoglycemia is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, according to a study published online July 29 in PLOS Medicine. Hanbin Wu, from...
Mental Illness Increased During, After Pregnancy for Gestational Carriers
MONDAY, Aug. 4, 2025 -- Gestational carriers seem to be more likely to be diagnosed with mental illness during and after pregnancy than those with unassisted pregnancies or...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.