TREATMENT OF VIRAL-INFECTIONS DURING PREGNANCY AND THE NEONATAL-PERIOD

Over the past 15 years, successful antiviral therapy of herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection has emerged with safe therapeutics. Despite the major impact of acyclovir on the severity of HSV infection, morbidity and mortality from neonatal herpes exist. The development of therapeu tics that impact on the natural history of HIV and AIDS just now are b eing realized, nearly a decade after the first beneficial effects of t herapy were reported. Early investigations of antiviral agents in preg nant women and children must occur more promptly as the field of antiv iral therapy advances. Improved therapeutics are likely to emerge over the next decade for both pregnant women and their offspring.