Coldsore virus from mum's kisses kills 11-day-old baby Jennifer

Tragic newborn Jennifer Schofield died from too much love.

The tot – just 11 days old – was killed after mum Ruth passed on a coldsore virus by showering her with kisses.

The virus attacked baby Jennifer’s major organs and killed her, an inquest heard.

Ruth, 35, caught the Herpes Simplex Virus during the latter stages of her pregnancy, the inquest heard.

She complained of flu-like symptoms and was given antibiotics towards the end of her pregnancy.

She was also treated for mouth ulcers two days after Jennifer was born in November 2006.

Ruth went on to treat baby Jennifer as normal and kissed her and tried to breastfeed her.

But the baby, who wasn’t feeding well, became ill and was taken for tests at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary when she was eight days old.

Jennifer’s health deteriorated quickly and three days later the family agreed to stop life-prolonging intervention. The tragic tot died on December 5.

The condition, commonly passed on when people kiss, is a fairly minor problem for adults but is thought to kill six babies a year in the UK.

Devastated Ruth, who has a 16-year-old daughter Emma and has since had another baby, Annabel, 15 months, is convinced Jennifer would still be alive if she had been given the right advice. “Six die a year and it is six too many,” said single mum Ruth, from Lancaster.

“People think of coldsores but there was no sign she had HSV. There were no coldsores. The pain for a mother losing a child is the most painful thing anybody can go through. It is one that stays with you for life.”

HSV is more commonly diagnosed as a primary virus in childhood but it was the first time Ruth had a coldsore, so she had built up no resistance to the virus.

This meant she could not pass any antibodies on to her unborn child, who

had no chance to build up immunity to it herself.

Ruth has written to the Prime Minister demanding more warning be given to pregnant mothers.

Lancaster coroner Dr James Adeley recorded a narrative verdict on Monday and said the family and doctors should not blame themselves.