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OVERVIEW

What is cytomegalovirus?

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common virus. Most people are exposed to the virus as infants. It is that believed most adults are diagnosed with the virus by age 40. Many people are infected with CMV and don’t know it. That’s because the virus rarely causes symptoms. It usually does not cause long-term problems. However, CMV can cause problems in people who have an impaired immune system. Also, it can cause problems in a newborn if the mother gets the infection during pregnancy.

SYMPTOMS

What are the symptoms of CMV?

Usually, CMV does not cause symptoms. Sometimes, it causes mild symptoms. A few people will have symptoms that are similar to the mononucleosis virus. Symptoms of CMV can include:

• Sore throat
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Fever
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Muscle aches
• Loss of appetite

Newborns who are infected with CMV in the womb can be very sick when they are born. Symptoms at birth can include:

• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin)
• Low birth weight
• Seizures
• Enlarged spleen
• Enlarged liver
• Pneumonia

People taking immunosuppressant medicines for conditions like human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or from having an organ transplant may have severe symptoms. Immunosuppressant medicines lower or suppress the immune system. Symptoms of severe CMV include: Symptoms of severe CMV include:

• Blindness
• Pneumonia (inflammation of the respiratory tract)
• Diarrhea
• Bleeding ulcers in the esophagus (windpipe) or intestines (stomach region)
• Inflammation of the brain
• Seizures

CMV is likely to cause vision problems in people who have impaired immune systems. , So if you have conditions such as HIV or AIDS, your healthcare provider may recommend that you visit an eye doctor  to check for infection. Let your healthcare provider know if you are having any painless blurring of your vision, “floaters” only in one eye, light flashes or areas of blindness. You should also contact your healthcare provider(s) if you are experiencing frequent shortness of breath with flu-like symptoms, or if you are having problems hearing.

CAUSES & RISK FACTORS

What causes cytomegalovirus?

The virus is similar to the viruses that cause chickenpox and mononucleosis.  It gets into body fluids, such as saliva, blood, urine, semen and breast milk. A person can pass the virus to others only when it is active in their system. It can be spread from one person to another through sexual contact or contact with blood and other body fluids. CMV can rarely be transmitted by blood transfusion or organ transplantation.

If a pregnant woman passes CMV onto her unborn baby, it could cause a miscarriage, stillbirth, or death of the newborn. Newborns who survive are at an increased risk for hearing loss and mental disability. However, only a small percentage of newborns infected with CMV during pregnancy experience problems from the virus. Most are born healthy or with only mild CMV symptoms.

DIAGNOSIS & TESTS

How is cytomegalovirus diagnosed?

CMV is diagnosed with a blood test. If you are pregnant, your healthcare provider may want to test you for CMV to determine if there is a risk for your unborn baby. If you do carry the virus, your healthcare provider may suggest a test called amniocentesis, which collects a sample of the amniotic fluid for testing. It can help determine whether your unborn baby has CMV.

PREVENTION

Can cytomegalovirus be prevented or avoided?

Careful, frequent hand washing with soap and water may help prevent the spread of CMV. Daycare centers are high-risk areas for children 1 to 3 years of age. People caring for someone diagnosed with HIV, AIDS, or with impaired immune systems from organ transplant should wear gloves when dealing with bodily fluids. Avoid kissing and sexual contact with a known infected person. Always practice safe sex by using condoms.

TREATMENT

For otherwise healthy people, CMV usually doesn’t require treatment. If your immune system is weakened, your healthcare provider may use one of several different medicines to treat CMV infection. However, because CMV is a virus, regular antibiotics won’t work against it. Antiviral drugs are usually prescribed, which slows the virus down (but cannot cure CMV).

If you are pregnant and your baby has CMV, you healthcare provider will likely check your baby for any health problems once they are born so they can be treated early. Treatable symptoms in newborns include pneumonia, hearing loss and inflammation of the eye.

Living with cytomegalovirus

When the virus is inactive (no signs of symptoms), there is no discomfort. When the virus is active, the symptoms can affect your quality of life. Contact your healthcare provider for recommendations on ways reduce the discomfort of the symptoms.