What is cytomegalovirus?Cytomegalovirus (also called CMV) is a common virus that infects people of all ages. More than half of adults in the United States become infected with CMV by age 40. Once CMV is in your body, you have it for the rest of your life. The virus can reactivate and cause another infection. You can also be re-infected with a different strain (variety) of the virus. Show
Most people with CMV infection have no symptoms and aren’t aware that they have been infected. CMV infection usually isn’t harmful in healthy adults or children because their immune system protects their bodies from infection. But CMV can cause serious health problems for some, including:
CMV is the most common infection passed from pregnant people to babies during pregnancy. One in 3 pregnant people passes the infection on to their babies. If you have CMV during pregnancy, the virus in your blood can pass through the placenta to your baby. The placenta supplies the baby with food and oxygen through the umbilical cord. It’s possible for CMV to cause the death of a baby during pregnancy (pregnancy loss). When a baby gets CMV during pregnancy, it’s called congenital CMV. Congenital means that it’s present at birth. One in 200 babies in the U.S. is born with CMV. Most babies with congenital CMV don’t have problems, but some get sick or have long-term health problems. A baby also may get infected after birth if they come in contact with infected body fluids. There’s no cure for CMV, but medicines can help treat CMV in newborns and people with weak immune systems. CMV is part of the family of herpes viruses. It’s related to the viruses that cause chickenpox, herpes simplex (also called HSV) and mononucleosis (also called mono). Once you’re infected with CMV, it stays in your body for life. If you’re healthy, CMV usually stays inactive but it can become active again, especially if you get a disease or take medicine that weakens your immune system. You also can get infected again with a different strain of the virus. What are the signs and symptoms of CMV?Most people with CMV don’t know they have the infection because they don’t have signs or symptoms. Signs and symptoms of CMV can be different in healthy people, babies and people with weak immune systems. Signs and symptoms of CMV in healthy people may include:
CMV sometimes can cause hepatitis and mononucleosis (mono). Hepatitis is a disease caused by a virus that attacks the liver. Mono is a disease that can cause extreme fatigue, head and body aches, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes and swollen spleen or liver. People with weakened immune systems who get CMV can have more serious problems that can affect the eyes, lungs, liver, esophagus, stomach and intestines. The esophagus is the tube that connects the mouth and stomach. The intestines are long tubes that help your body break down (digest) food. People who are more likely to have the signs and symptoms of CMV include:
Contact your health care provider if you have the symptoms of mono while pregnant. These include:
How does CMV spread?You get CMV by coming in direct contact with body fluids from a person who’s infected with CMV. Body fluids that can contain CMV include:
CMV spreads in several ways:
Adults usually get CMV by having sex with someone who has CMV or by having contact with young children who have CMV. You may be more likely than other people to get CMV if you:
Can I give CMV to my baby?You’re more likely to pass CMV to your baby if you get infected during pregnancy than if you had an infection before you got pregnant. If you have a CMV infection during pregnancy, you have a 1-in-3 chance (33 percent) of passing it to your baby. If you were infected with CMV before you got pregnant, the chance of passing it to your baby drops to about 1 in 100. More than half of adults have had a CMV infection by the time they are 40 years old, and about 1 to 4 in 100 people (1 to 4 percent) get infected with CMV for the first time during pregnancy. You can pass CMV to your baby at any time during pregnancy. But you are more likely to pass it on if you get infected for the first time during pregnancy or if a past CMV infection becomes active again, especially in the third trimester. You also can pass CMV to your baby during labor and birth, or while nursing. If your baby gets the virus during these times and was born at a healthy weight, they probably won’t have health problems. Preterm babies (babies born before 37 weeks of pregnancy) and low-birthweight babies (babies born weighing less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces) may get sick if they’re infected during birth or while you’re nursing. If you had a CMV infection before you got pregnant, you can still pass it to your baby, but this is rare. How does CMV affect babies?Most babies born with CMV never show signs of the disease and don’t have health problems. However, babies who are infected with CMV at birth may have long-term health problems, including:
Some babies with congenital CMV who don’t show the signs of the disease at birth may still have or develop hearing loss. It may affect one ear or both ears. Sometimes hearing loss can get worse as a baby grows up. How is CMV diagnosed during pregnancy?You typically won’t be tested for CMV during prenatal testing. Tell your health care provider if you think you may have CMV or you think you may have been exposed to CMV. Your provider can give you a blood test or test other body fluids to see if you’re infected. Blood tests can help you know whether you have a new infection or if you had a past infection. Can a baby get tested for CMV before birth?Yes. If a blood test shows you have a new CMV infection during pregnancy, your provider may recommend testing your baby for the virus using amniocentesis (also called amnio). An amniocentesis is a test that takes some amniotic fluid from around your baby before they are born to check for birth defects and genetic conditions in your baby. You can get this test at 15 to 20 weeks of pregnancy. Your provider also may use ultrasound to check for physical signs that your baby has CMV. An ultrasound (also called sonogram) uses sound waves to show a picture of your baby before they are born. If your provider thinks that your baby may have CMV, your baby’s urine and saliva may be tested to check for the virus. How is CMV treated during pregnancy?There is no cure for CMV, but medications can control infections. Most healthy adults with CMV don’t need treatment. This includes during pregnancy. People with weakened immune systems may need treatment with an antiviral medicine. These medicines kill infections caused by viruses. Medicines used to treat CMV include ganciclovir, valganciclovir, cidofovir and foscarnet. How are babies diagnosed with CMV after birth?About 1 in 200 babies (less than 1 percent) is born with congenital CMV in this country each year. Your baby’s provider can diagnose CMV infection by testing your newborn baby’s saliva, urine or blood. Testing should be done within 2 to 3 weeks after your baby is born to confirm that your baby has congenital CMV. Most babies with congenital CMV don’t have health problems, but about 1 in 5 babies with congenital CMV can get sick from the virus or have long-term health problems. Some babies born with CMV have signs and symptoms, including:
How is CMV treated after birth?Babies who show the signs of CMV at birth may be treated with antiviral medications. Antiviral medication may lower your baby’s risk of developing health problems and hearing loss. These medications can include ganciclovir or valganciclovir. However, both can cause serious side effects. More research about using antiviral medications on babies is needed. Using antivirals to treat babies with congenital CMV who have no signs at birth is not currently recommended. Babies with congenital CMV, with or without signs at birth, should have regular hearing checks. If your baby has a hearing issue, the earlier it’s detected, the more your baby can benefit from treatment. You should also follow up regularly with your baby’s doctor to discuss any care or additional services that your baby may need. This may include speech services or occupational therapy. Can I nurse my baby if I have CMV?CMV can be transmitted to your baby through breast milk while nursing. If you have CMV, you can nurse your baby if they were full term at birth. However, if your baby was born before 30 weeks of pregnancy and weighs less than 3.3 pounds (1,500 grams), talk to your provider before nursing. Some preterm and low birthweight babies can get sick from infected breast milk. Freezing and pasteurizing (heating) breast milk can decrease the risk of transmission. However, freezing does not make nursing completely safe for your baby. How can you protect yourself from CMV?Here are some things you can do:
Scientists are working to develop vaccines for CMV. Vaccines make you immune to certain diseases. These vaccines may help prevent CMV infection in pregnant people and babies, and they may help reduce the chance that a baby born to an infected person will have health problems. For more information
Last reviewed: August 2021 What diseases can affect a fetus?Infections in pregnancy that may affect your baby. Chickenpox in pregnancy. ... . CMV in pregnancy. ... . Group B streptococcus in pregnancy. ... . Infections transmitted by animals. ... . Hepatitis B. ... . Herpes in pregnancy. ... . HIV in pregnancy. ... . Slapped cheek syndrome in pregnancy.. Which disease can cause congenital problems if a mother contracts it during pregnancy?Most people have been infected with cytomegalovirus (CMV), but do not have symptoms. If a pregnant woman is infected with CMV, she can pass it to her developing baby. This is called congenital CMV, and it can cause birth defects and other health problems.
What can cause birth defects in pregnancy?What causes birth defects?. Genetics. One or more genes might have a change or mutation that prevents them from working properly. ... . Chromosomal problems. ... . Exposures to medicines, chemicals, or other toxic substances. ... . Infections during pregnancy. ... . Lack of certain nutrients.. What happens if a pregnant woman gets Zika virus?If you're pregnant and infected with Zika virus, you can pass it to your baby. Zika infection during pregnancy causes a birth defect called microcephaly and other brain problems. It also may be linked to other serious problems for a baby.
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