This report provides an update on the surveillance conducted by the Australian Paediatric Surveillance Unit (APSU) during the period January to December 2013. The APSU facilitates national active surveillance of uncommon diseases of childhood including selected communicable diseases. This report includes data on the following conditions: acute flaccid paralysis (AFP), congenital cytomegalovirus...

Introduction: Herpes Simplex Virus type 2 (HSV-2)  is a highly prevalent sexually transmitted infection (STI) The prevalence of HSV-2 infection is increasing in many populations and geographic areas . Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is the cause of most genital herpes and is almost always sexually transmitted. Most HSV-2 infections are consequently expected to occur after the onset of sexua...

Herpes simplex viruses types 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2) infect a large proportion of the world's population. Infection is life-long and can cause periodic mucocutaneous symptoms, but it only rarely causes life-threatening disease among immunocompetent children and adults. However, when HSV infection occurs during the neonatal period, viral replication is poorly controlled and a large proportion ...

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine the cost-effectiveness of routine antenatal screening for herpes simplex virus 1 and 2 in women without a known history of genital herpes. STUDY DESIGN Decision analysis was used to compare 3 treatment strategies to prevent neonatal herpes infection in women without a known history of genital herpes simplex virus: (1) the current standard o...

Of the two virologically distinct types of Herpes simplex viruses i.e., types 1 and 2, Herpes simplex virus-2 [HSV-2] is the predominant cause of neonatal disease, and is almost always acquired from an infected maternal genital tract. Perinatally transmitted HSV-2 infection in the neonate may have either a localized, disseminated or encephalitic pattern of presentation. The encephalitic from of...