Risks of Herpes in Pregnancy - one woman's story

Barbara didn't know she had been infected with herpes when pregnant with Jimmy. Here she tells their story.

The story of Barbara Wilkop and her son Jimmy exemplifies how the herpes simplex virus (HSV) can affect anyone and impact severely on the lives of those it touches. Barbara, a professional, educated and otherwise healthy woman living in Birmingham, USA, was completely unaware that she carried the virus that usually causes genital herpes (HSV-2) until it was too late.

Following a normal pregnancy, Barbara gave birth to her second child, Jimmy, on 3 June 1987. Jimmy was five weeks premature but was delivered normally and given a clean bill of health by the hospital.

Two weeks after his birth, Barbara noticed that Jimmy had tiny blisters over his stomach. Barbara knew that she had the virus that normally causes cold sores and blisters on the upper body, HSV-1, having experienced blisters on her mouth, chest and back. Consequently she was worried that Jimmy's blisters might be herpes vesicles. Barbara called her paediatrician who told her that 'new-borns rarely get herpes', so no medical action was taken.

Late the following morning, Barbara became more concerned as Jimmy hadn't eaten for four hours, which was unusual, so this time she took him straight to her paediatrician. The doctor immediately admitted Jimmy to hospital. Tests revealed that Jimmy was positive for herpes simplex virus, but it was for HSV-2, which usually causes genital herpes.

The following months were traumatic for Barbara and her family; Jimmy was hospitalized four times that summer; suffered two episodes of viral encephalitis (viral infection in the brain and spinal cord); experienced epileptic seizures; endured four spinal taps (one of which was contaminated) and was placed on intravenous (IV) aciclovir three times.

As a consequence of his neonatal infection with HSV-2, Jimmy suffered brain damage. Both temporal lobes are missing from his brain, which means that he has severely reduced cognitive functions (low IQ), limited sound-processing abilities (hearing impairment) and poor short-term memory. As a 12-year-old boy, Jimmy still has the mental age of a three-year-old.

The school system has labelled Jimmy as autistic as he possesses nine out of ten characteristics of autism. He is epileptic, hearing impaired and non-verbal. He communicates using minimal sign language, screaming and gestures.

When Jimmy was diagnosed HSV-2-positive, Barbara was also tested by the hospital. Her cervical culture test came back negative, yet Barbara was not offered a blood test to verify this result. It wasn't until 14 months after Jimmy's birth that Barbara discovered the truth. A blood test offered by a different medical team diagnosed her as HSV-2-positive - unveiling the horrifying reality that she had transmitted the virus that caused her son's brain damage.

It has taken Barbara a long time to come to terms with what had happened, but she now spreads her message to educate women about the risks of HSV-2 infection when pregnant. 'Jimmy became infected with the herpes simplex virus from a normal delivery, using invasive foetal scalp monitors, which increased the chance of the virus passing from me to Jimmy.

'Women must be made aware - through information and education - of the consequences of passing the virus to their unborn child. I was not aware I was infected with HSV-2. Had I been offered a blood test, my condition could have been properly diagnosed and we might have prevented the virus passing to Jimmy.'Barbara looks back at the time before Jimmy's birth and realises that what she mistook as yeast infections were actually undiagnosed herpes outbreaks.

'I wish mine was the only story out there but there are many others. There is no cure for herpes, there is not yet a vaccine and the number of children being infected is increasing each year. Not only has herpes had a profound effect on my son's life and future, but Jimmy's care has also had a huge financial impact on my family, medical resources, educational support and ultimately society itself. I want to prevent this happening to other children and their families.'

National Herpes Day is being held on the 13th October, with the focus on genital herpes

For accurate, up-to-date information, education and support on herpes, contact the Australian Herpes Management Forum (AHMF) on 02 8230 3843 . www.ahmf.com.au

Related articles:
www.girl.com.au/herpes_jenny.htm
www.girl.com.au\herpes-forever.htm
www.girl.com.au\jessica-herpes.htm
www.femail.com.au\herpes-pregnancy.htm
www.femail.com.au/treatmentherpes.htm
www.femail.com.au/transmissionherpes.htm
More on Genital Herpes - www.femail.com.au/genitalherpes.htm