Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection

Description

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common virus. Once infected, your body retains the virus for life. Most people don't know they have CMV because it rarely causes problems in healthy people.

If you are pregnant or if your immune system is weakened, CMV is cause for concern. Women who develop an active CMV infection during pregnancy can pass the virus to their babies, who might experience the symptoms. For people who have weakened immune systems, especially people who have had an organ, stem cell or bone marrow transplantation, CMV infection can be fatal.

CMV is transmitted from person to person through body fluids, such as blood, saliva, urine, semen and breast milk. There is No cure but there are medications that can help treat the symptoms.

Symptoms

The majority of healthy people who are infected with CMV may experience no symptoms. Some experience mild symptoms. People who are more likely to experience signs and symptoms of CMV include:

  • Newborns infected with CMV before birth (congenital CMV ).
  • Babies who get infected during birth or shortly after (perinatal CMV ). This group includes infants infected through breast milk.
  • People who have weakened immune systems, such as those who have had an organ, bone marrow or stem cell transplant, or those that are infected with HIV.

Babies

The majority of infants who have congenital CMV appear healthy at birth.

A couple of infants who have congenital CMV who appear healthy at birth, develop signs over time — sometimes not for months or years after birth. The more common late-onset, are the signs of hearing loss and developmental delay. A small number of babies may also develop vision problems.

The following signs and symptoms are more common in babies with congenital CMV and those who are sick at birth:

  • Premature birth
  • Low birth weight
  • Yellow discoloration of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
  • Enlarged and poorly functioning liver
  • Purple skin splotches or a rash or both
  • Abnormally small head (microencephaly)
  • Enlargement of the spleen
  • Pneumonia
  • Seizures

People who have weakened immunity

If your immune system is weakened, you may experience serious problems that affect your:

  • Eyes
  • The lungs
  • Liver
  • Esophagus
  • Stomach
  • The intestines
  • Brain

Healthy adults

Most people who are infected with CMV are healthy experience few or no symptoms. When first infected, some adults may have symptoms similar to those of infectious mononucleosis, including:

  • Fatigue
  • Fever
  • Sore throat
  • Muscle aches

When to see a doctor

See your doctor if:

  • You have a weakened immune system and you are experiencing symptoms of CMV infection. For people who have weakened immune systems, CMV infection can be severe or even fatal. People who have undergone stem cell or organ transplants appear to be at higher risk.
  • Develop a mononucleosis-like illness while you are pregnant.

If you have the CMV, but otherwise healthy, and you're experiencing any mild, the generalization of the disease, you could be in a period of revival. Self-care, such as getting enough rest, should be enough for your body to control the infection.

When your child should see a doctor

If you know that you are infected with CMV during pregnancy, tell your doctor. It is likely that the doctor will assess your baby for hearing or vision problems.

Causes

CMV is related to the viruses that cause chicken pox, herpes and mononucleosis. The CMV may cycle through periods when it is idle, and then wakes up. If you are healthy, CMV, most of all, it stays dormant.

When the virus is active in your body, you can pass the virus to other people. The virus is spread through bodily fluids — including blood, urine, saliva, breast milk, tears, semen, and vaginal fluids. Casual contact does not transmit CMV disease .

The ways in which the virus can be transmitted include:

  • Touching the eyes or inside the nose or mouth after coming into contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person.
  • Sexual contact with an infected person.
  • The breast milk of an infected mother.
  • Organ, bone marrow or stem cell transplantation or blood transfusions.
  • Birth. An infected mother can transmit the virus to her baby before or during birth. The risk of transmitting the virus to her baby is higher if you are infected for the first time during pregnancy.

Risk factors

CMV is a widespread and common virus that can infect almost anyone.

Complications

The complications of CMV infection vary, depending on your overall state of health and when they were infected.

Healthy adults

Rarely, CMV may cause a healthy adult to develop mononucleosis. Other rare complications for healthy adults, including problems with the digestive system, the liver, the brain and the nervous system.

People who have weakened immunity

The complications of CMV infection may include:

  • The loss of vision, due to the inflammation of the sensitivity to light of the layer of the eye (retinitis)
  • Problems in the digestive system, including inflammation of the colon (colitis), the esophagus (esophagitis) and of the liver (hepatitis)
  • Nervous system problems, including inflammation of the brain (encephalitis)
  • Pneumonia

Infants who have congenital CMV

A baby whose mother became the first to be infected with CMV during pregnancy are more likely to experience complications. Complications for the baby may include:

  • Hearing loss
  • Intellectual disability
  • Vision problems
  • Seizures
  • The lack of coordination
  • Weakness or problems with the muscles

Prevention

Care of the hygiene is the best prevention against CMV . You can take these precautions:

  • Wash your hands often. Use soap and water for 15 to 20 seconds, especially if you have contact with young children or diapers, saliva, or other oral secretions. This is especially important if children attend the nursery.
  • Avoid contact with the tears and the saliva when you kiss a child. Instead of kissing a child on the lips, for example, a kiss on the forehead. This is especially important if you are pregnant.
  • Avoid sharing food or drink from the same glass as the others. Sharing glasses and kitchen utensils can spread the disease by CMV .
  • Be careful with the disposable elements. When disposing of diapers, tissues and other items that have been contaminated with bodily fluids, wash your hands thoroughly before touching your face.
  • Clean toys and countertops. Clean surfaces that come in contact with children's urine or saliva.
  • The practice of safe sex. Use a condom during sex to prevent the spread of CMV through semen and vaginal fluids.

If you have weakened immunity, you may benefit from taking antiviral medications to prevent CMV disease.

Experimental vaccines are being tested to women of childbearing age. These vaccines may be useful in the prevention of CMV infection in mothers and infants, and the reduction of the probability that babies born to women infected during pregnancy may develop disabilities.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection

Diagnosis

Laboratory tests — including tests of blood and other body fluids, or testing of tissue samples — you can detect the presence of cytomegalovirus (CMV).

During pregnancy and after childbirth

If you are pregnant, the tests to determine if you have been infected with CMV may be important. Pregnant women who have already developed antibodies against the CMV has a very small chance of reactivation of the infection to their unborn children.

If your doctor detects a new CMV infection during pregnancy, a prenatal testing (amniocentesis) can determine if the fetus has been infected. In this test, your doctor will take, and examines a sample of amniotic fluid. Amniocentesis is generally recommended when the anomalies that can be caused by CMV is seen on ultrasound.

If your doctor suspects your baby has congenital CMV , it is important to try the baby within the first three weeks of birth. If your baby has CMV , your doctor will likely recommend additional tests to check the health of the baby's organs, such as the liver and kidneys.

In people who have weakened immunity

Testing for CMV also can be important if you have a weakened immune system. For example, if you have HIV or AIDS, or if you have had a transplant, your doctor may want to monitor on a regular basis.

Treatment

The treatment generally is not necessary for healthy children and adults. Healthy adults who develop mononucleosis, CMV usually recover without medication.

Newborns and people who have weakened immunity need for treatment when they are experiencing symptoms of CMV infection. The type of treatment depends on the signs and symptoms and their severity.

Antiviral medications are the most common type of treatment. You can curb the reproduction of the virus but cannot remove it. Researchers are studying new drugs and vaccines to treat and prevent CMV disease .

Preparing for your appointment

Here's some information to help you prepare for your appointment.

What you can do

Prior to her appointment, take these steps:

  • Write down any symptoms you or your child is experiencing. Include signs and symptoms, even if they appear to be of minor importance, such as low-grade fever, or fatigue.
  • Write questions to ask their doctor. Your time with your doctor is limited, so that it can be helpful to prepare a list of questions.

For CMV , questions to ask your doctor include:

  • What is likely causing my symptoms?
  • What tests do I need?
  • Is my condition likely temporary or chronic?
  • What is the best course of action?
  • I'm going to infect other people?
  • Are there any restrictions I need to follow?
  • I have other health conditions. How can I best manage them together?

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor will likely ask you a series of questions, including:

  • How long have you had your symptoms?
  • Do you work or live with young children?
  • Has had a blood transfusion or organ, bone marrow or stem cell transplant recently?
  • Do you have a medical condition that could weaken your immune system, such as HIV or AIDS?
  • You are receiving chemotherapy?
  • Do you practice safe sex?
  • Are you pregnant or breastfeeding?

In addition, if you think you have been exposed to during the pregnancy:

  • When do you think you may have been exposed?
  • Have you had symptoms of the disease?
  • It has been tested by CMV before?
Symptoms and treatment of Cytomegalovirus infection (CMV) infection