What Is a Cmv?

CMV, or cytomegalovirus, is an virus that is a frequent cause of birth defects in babies whose mothers carry it. Approximately one out of every 750 children develops CMV, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Significance

• Many people who have CMV never realize they are carrying the virus because often it presents no symptoms. But infants and people with compromised immune systems are susceptible to its effects.

Causes

• In newborns, CMV is spread through the placenta, breast milk or during labor. Adults contract CMV through sexual contact, organ transplantation and touching their eyes, nose or mouth after coming in contact with the bodily fluid of someone carrying the virus.

Symptoms

• In adults, symptoms of CMV include fatigue, weakness, night sweats, fevers, swollen glands, sore throat, loss of appetite, decreased weight, muscle aches, joint pains or stiffness and nausea. In newborns, some symptoms of CMV are yellowed skin, a rash consisting of large purple splotches, low birth weight, enlarged spleen or liver, pneumonia and seizures.

Risks

• Babies born with CMV are at risk for autism, hearing loss, vision problems, mental retardation or learning disabilities, lack of coordination, attention deficit disorder, seizure disorders and even death. Adults with compromised immune systems may suffer blindness, low blood oxygen levels, severe diarrhea, stomach ulcers, hepatitis, inflammation of your brain, seizures and coma.

Treatments

• There is no cure for CMV, but in newborns or people with compromised immune systems, antiviral medications often inhibit its spread. This prevents symptoms of the virus from worsening, according to the Mayo Clinic.