8 Infants Get Herpes from Metzitzah, "Only Tip of the Iceberg"
 

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Eight infants developed genital herpes following an ancient Jewish
ritual of circumcision, highlighting the dangers associated with this
procedure, researchers report.

All of the infants underwent a form of circumcision in which the
circumciser, or mohel, takes wine in his mouth and sucks the blood
from the newly created wound, then spits the blood and wine mixture
into a receptacle. The circumciser repeats this procedure, known as
metzitzah, until the bleeding stops.

The eight infants developed genital herpes between 4 and 11 days after
the procedure. Of four mohels who performed the circumcisions and
agreed to be tested, all carried antibodies to herpes simplex virus
type 1, indicating they were infected.

In one infant, the herpes virus spread to the brain, causing long-term
brain damage.

The authors note that the virus can be secreted in saliva for several
days to weeks and can appear in the saliva of people who show no
symptoms of infection, or cold sore on the mouth, they note.

"We suspect, therefore, that this entity is underreported for cultural
reasons and that the studies described here are only the 'tip of the
iceberg' of the true incidence of the disease," they write.

SOURCE: Pediatrics, August 2004.


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