Cytomegalovirus Symptoms

The cytomegalovirus is a common virus that normally displays no symptoms. The most common test to diagnose for the cytomegalovirus is a blood test that looks at the proteins in the blood. The Mayo Clinic recommends that pregnant women be screened for the cytomegalovirus on a regular basis to defend against potential birth defects.

Identification

• Cytomegalovirus, or CMV, is a virus that can infect any person, but it only has an effect on people with weakened immune systems. For example, the cytomegalovirus can cause birth defects in an unborn child if it is contracted by the mother during pregnancy. The cytomegalovirus is transported from person to person through the various body fluids including saliva, breast milk and semen. The virus can be contracted at any time and then remain in the body for years before it finally starts to show symptoms.

Effects

• When the cytomegalovirus starts to show symptoms, the initial symptoms mimic a flu or common cold. The person may start to sweat excessively especially at night, there will be a general feeling of fatigue and the person may feel weak. Additionally, joints and muscles may feel stiff and painful and there may be a general achy feeling throughout the body, the person may start to lose their appetite and this could lead to significant weight loss and the person may suffer from a chronic fever that seems to linger.

Potential

• The cytomegalovirus can start to affect specific parts of the body as it advances. If it infects the liver, then symptoms such as hepatitis may occur. An infection of the eyes could cause double vision or blurred vision at first, and then it may progress to complete blindness. If the cytomegalovirus attacks the digestive system, then symptoms, such as diarrhea and blood in the stool, may begin to occur. One of the more significant possible infected areas would be the brain where symptoms such as repeated seizures and coma may occur.

Prevention/Solution

• There are experimental anti-viral medications that are being used to try and treat the cytomegalovirus. These drugs are ganciclovir, foscarnet, and cidofovir. Their effectiveness is limited and there is a possibility of permanent kidney damage if these drugs are used incorrectly. A doctor that prescribes these medications will normally monitor the progress to prevent kidney damage. However, there is no real cure for the cytomegalovirus. A doctor will try to prescribe medication to lessen the effects of the symptoms, or recommend lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise, to help reduce the cytomegalovirus impact, but a cure does not exist.

Considerations

• The cytomegalovirus is a very widespread virus. The Mayo Clinic estimates that as much as 80 percent of the American population is infected with the cytomegalovirus by the time they reach 40 years old. The virus seems to be most dangerous to pregnant women and people of advanced age, so screening is normally recommended for those two groups on a regular basis.