Tom Greenhalgh, 27, was not allowed to be in contact with his son Austin for two weeks because the rare condition could have killed the newborn baby.
His upper body and head were completely covered in painful, weeping sores after he picked up a severe form of the herpes virus.
Mr Greenhalgh, from Ilkeston, Nottingham, believes that he became infected by nervously scratching himself as wife Kerry - already two weeks overdue - went into labour.
Mr Greenhalgh, who already had sensitive skin and eczema, was told he probably contracted the virus from something like a door handle and transferred it to a raw patch on his body.
He felt fine as little Austin arrived at Nottingham City Hospital and went home to get some sleep.
But a few hours later he woke up to find his neck was inflamed and painful and the rash quickly spread to his chest and face to his hairline.
Mr Greenhalgh tried treating the outbreak with some of his normal eczema cream but sores started to quickly develop with a weeping clear fluid.
He covered the sores in bandaging but there was still no improvement so he went to the doctor the next day - just 24 hours after leaving the maternity unit.
The GP was so shocked he first thought he was facing a burns victim before prescribing some extra-strong cream which had little effect.
Two days later Mr Greenhalgh, by now in unbearable pain, took himself to the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham.
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