CYTOMEGALOVIRUS (CMV) INFECTION
Cytomegalovirus infection is an infection caused by cytomegalovirus, a common virus found around the world that can affect almost anyone.
- This virus infects people of all ages and once it is in a person body, it stays there for life and can reactivate to cause disease.
- Cytomegalovirus belongs to the Herpesviridae family, so it is related to the virus that causes mononucleosis and chickenpox.
- Most people don’t know they have the virus because it rarely causes a problem in healthy people.
- It is estimated that around 60% to 90% of adults have had a CMV infection by the time they are 40 years of age.
CAUSES
The cytomegalovirus infection is caused by the cytomegalovirus. This virus can infect many body systems and remain dormant in those tissues for life. Various stimuli can, however, reactivate the dormant cytomegalovirus(CMV). During its activation period, the virus can be passed on to other people. The virus is spread through body fluids, including urine, blood, saliva, breast milk, tears, semen, and vaginal fluids. Casual contact doesn’t transmit the virus.
Transmission might occur through:
- Sexual contact with an infected person
- Organ transplantation or blood transfusion
- Mother-child transmission either before or during birth, or through breast milk.
- Touching the inside of your nose or mouth or touching your eyes after coming in contact with the body fluids of an infected person.
People who are at a higher risk of developing the condition include:
- People with multiple sex partners
- Young children and adults in close contacts with infected people
- People with previous blood transfusion or organ transplantation
- People with a weakened immune system such as seen in HIV/AIDS, cancer patients, or those who are taking immune system suppressing medications.
- The unborn child of an infected pregnant woman
SYMPTOMS
Most people with the condition experience no symptoms
Healthy people may experience few symptoms such as:
- Muscle aches
- Fatigue
- A sore throat
- Fever
Babies who get the virus from their mother at birth may have the following symptoms:
- Low birth weight
- Premature birth
- Pneumonia
- Seizures
- Purple skin splotches or/and a rash
- Abnormally small head
- Jaundice (Yellow skin and eyes)
- An enlarged and poorly functioning liver
People with weakened immune system may experience more severe symptoms that may affect:
- Eyes
- Lungs
- Brain
- Intestines
- Liver
- Stomach
DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT
To make a diagnosis, laboratory tests including blood tests and other body fluids, or test of tissue samples can detect the virus.
If you are pregnant, testing may be done to determine if you carry the virus. This can be very important. If CMV is detected, amniocentesis (a prenatal test) can be used to detect the infection in the fetus.
If you have a weakened immune system, testing is important. If the virus is detected, regular monitoring for complications of the infection is recommended.
TREATMENT
Treatment is not generally needed for healthy adults and children.
However, for newborns and people with poor immune systems, treatment is required when they are experiencing symptoms. The type of treatment is often symptomatic – based on symptoms.
The most common treatment is antiviral medications which can slow down the reproduction of the virus. They can’t eliminate it.