Ocular herpes simplex infections in children.

Abstract

A survey of "hospitalised" Herpes simplex infections in otherwise normal healthy children under the age of 13 years over a 15 year period between 1964 and 1979 at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children. This survey highlighted the unnecessarily high transference rate of Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection to the under 3 year old within the home environment. There were three hundred and forty (340) cases of non-fatal "hospitalized" HSV infections in the under 3 year old of which sixty three (63) were ocular infections. Over all age groups one hundred and forty five (145) children were hospitalised on one or several occasions with ocular HSV infection. Of these children before reaching the age of 13 years, fifteen (15) developed intraocular HSV infection and twenty seven (27) had a permanent visual acuity of less than 6/12. As a result of this survey the Princess Margaret Hospital motto for the I.Y.D.P. is: "Cuddle but do not kiss your child when you have an acute coldsore"