Congenital herpetic keratitis

D. S. Hutchison, R. E. Smith and P. B. Haughton

An infant, the first-born of twins, delivered by cesarean seciton without prior rupture of the membranes, was noted to have an advanced epithellal and stromal keratitis at berth. Herpes simplex, type 1, was cultured form the cornea and from skin vesicles which developed subsequently. The advanced nature of the lesion indicates that it was acquired in utero. This appears to be the first reported case of congential herpetic keratitis.