Neck vesicles in neonate with herpes simplex virus infection

The early untreated skin lesions associated with neonatal HSV infection are characteristically clear vesicles on an erythematous base, often touching or "kissing," or coalesced in groups of vesicles. Culture of the clear fluid aspirated or swabbed from the vesicles will readily grow HSV in 24 to 48 hours, and slides made from cells scraped from the base of the lesion will show HSV viral antigens by DFA.