14/02/2021
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're 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 then experience symptoms. For people who have weakened immune systems, especially people who have had an organ, stem cell or bone marrow transplant, CMV infection can be fatal.CMV spreads 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
Most healthy people who are infected with CMV may experience no symptoms. Some experience minor symptoms. People who are more likely to experience signs and symptoms of CMV include:
Newborns who became infected with CMV before they were born (congenital CMV).
Infants who become infected during birth or shortly afterward (perinatal CMV). This group includes babies 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 who are infected with HIV.
Babies
Most babies who have congenital CMV appear healthy at birth.
A few babies who have congenital CMV who appear healthy at birth develop signs over time β sometimes not for months or years after birth. The most common of these late-occurring signs are 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 who have congenital CMV and who are sick at birth:
Premature birth
Low birth weight
Yellow skin and eyes (jaundice)
Enlarged and poorly functioning liver
Purple skin splotches or a rash or both
Abnormally small head (microencephaly)
Enlarged spleen
Pneumonia
Seizures
People who have weakened immunity
If your immune system is weakened, you might experience serious problems that affect your:
Eyes
Lungs
Liver
Esophagus
Stomach
Intestines
Brain
Healthy adults
Most people who are infected with CMV who are otherwise healthy experience few if any symptoms. When first infected, some adults may have symptoms similar to 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're experiencing symptoms of CMV infection. For people who have weakened immune systems, CMV infection can be serious or even fatal. People who have undergone stem cell or organ transplants seem to be at greatest risk.
You develop a mononucleosis-like illness while you're pregnant.
If you have CMV but are otherwise healthy, and you're experiencing any mild, generalized illness, you could be in a reactivation period. Self-care, such as getting plenty of rest, should be enough for your body to control the infection.
When your child should see a doctor
If you know you were infected with CMV during your pregnancy, tell your baby's doctor. The doctor will likely assess your baby for hearing or vision problems.
