What is CMV?
CMV, or cytomegalovirus (si-to-MEG-a-lo-vi-rus), is a common virus that infects people of all ages. Once CMV is in a person’s body, it stays there for life. Most infections with CMV are "silent," meaning most people who are infected with CMV have no signs or symptoms. However, CMV can cause disease in unborn babies and in people with a weakened immune system. CMV is a member of the herpesvirus family, which includes the herpes simplex viruses and the viruses that cause chickenpox and infectious mononucleosis.

Who is at risk for CMV disease?
Anyone can become infected with CMV. One of the highest risk groups are pregnant women who have not yet contracted CMV prior to pregnancy, as they will possibly pass the virus to their developing child, causing potential birth defects. Most healthy adults and children who have a CMV infection will have few, if any, symptoms.

How is CMV spread?
CMV is found in body fluids, including urine, saliva, blood, mucus, and tears. A person who has not been exposed to CMV can become infected when they come into contact with infected body fluids.
Contact with the saliva or urine of young children is a major cause of CMV infection among pregnant women. Because young children are more likely to have CMV in their urine or saliva than are older children or adults, pregnant women who have young children or work with young children should be especially careful.
Women who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy should follow hygienic practices (e.g., careful handwashing) to avoid CMV infection.

What are the signs and symptoms of CMV?
Most healthy children and adults infected with CMV have no symptoms and may not even know that they have been infected. Others may develop a mild illness. Symptoms may include fever, sore throat, fatigue, and swollen glands.

What health problems does congenital CMV cause in babies?
Temporary problems include the following:

• Hearing Loss
• Vision Loss
• Mental Disability
• Lung Problems
• Bleeding Problems
• Spleen Problems
• Liver Problems
• Growth Problems

Permanent problems include the following:

• Hearing loss
• Vision loss
• Mental disability
• Feeding issues/Failure to Thrive (FTT)
• Sleeping issues
• Sensory issues
• ADHD/Autism
• Small head/small brain (Microcephaly)
• Intercranial Calcifications
• Cerebral palsy
• Seizures
• Death

CMV can cause symptoms when the baby is born or later in the baby’s life. In some infants, symptoms and problems can arise months or years after birth.

How do I know if I have CMV?
Most CMV infections are not diagnosed because the infected person usually has few or no symptoms.
A blood test can tell a person if they have CMV, but this test is not commonly performed. Laboratory tests can detect the virus in a person’s body fluids (blood or urine) or by a tissue biopsy (a small piece of the body's tissue). CMV can also be detected in the body by measuring the antibodies (immune proteins) in the blood targeted against CMV. This is called serologic testing. Congenital CMV disease is most likely to occur when a woman is infected for the first time during a pregnancy. This is known as a primary CMV infection. Primary infections occur in 1%-4% pregnant women and could lead to fetal infection.
Approximately 10% of CMV babies will have symptoms at birth, and of the 90% who have no symptoms, 10%-15% will develop symptoms over months or even years.

How do you prevent CMV during pregnancy?
If you are pregnant:
1) Wash your hands often with soap and water for 15-20 seconds, especially after changing diapers or touching saliva or nasal secretions from a young child.
2) Do not share food, drinks, or eating utensils with young children.
3) Being careful about kissing babies, toddlers and small children on the lips and mouth. Instead, kiss them on the forehead and/or give them a long hug.
Additionally, we recommend using soap and water or a disinfectant to clean hard surfaces that have been contaminated by secretions.

If I have a baby with congenital CMV, will my next baby also have congenital CMV?
Nearly all women who have one baby with congenital CMV will be protected from future CMV infections because they have developed immunity. There have been few reports of mothers who gave birth to more than one baby with congenital CMV. However, these cases are rare.

Is there a treatment for CMV?
Currently, no treatment is recommended for CMV infection in healthy pregnant women. Antiviral drugs, such as Ganciclovir and Valganciclovir, are being tested in infants born with congenital CMV. Because of its strong side effects, ganciclovir should only be considered for infants with severe congenital CMV disease. Vaccines for preventing CMV infection are still in the research and development stage.

Where can I learn more about CMV?
You can visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for more information about CMV and congenital CMV.