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McKesson Clinical Reference Systems: Women's Health Advisor 2002.2
Cytomegalovirus During Pregnancy
What is cytomegalovirus?
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common viral infection that a
baby can get from the mother before or during birth. If
you have this infection during pregnancy, it can harm the
baby.
How does it occur?
CMV is caused by a virus. The virus is spread from person
to person through contact with infected saliva, blood
transfusions, breast milk, urine, and semen. Often adults
become infected from contact with young children who have
the virus. If you are infected with the virus for the first
time during pregnancy, your baby may become infected.
What are the symptoms?
CMV usually does not cause any symptoms. Sometimes you may
have flulike symptoms such as swollen glands and tiredness.
Most infected babies do not show any symptoms at birth, but
many develop problems later. Newborns infected with CMV
before birth may have or develop the following problems:
- small size
- small brain
- enlarged liver and spleen
- hearing loss or eye problems
- jaundice (yellowish skin)
- calcium deposits in the brain
- extra fluid that puts pressure on the brain.
How is it diagnosed?
A routine ultrasound may show something abnormal in the
baby. Your health care provider will test samples of your
blood 3 or 4 weeks apart. A sample of urine, cells from
your cervix, or amniotic fluid may also be tested. Samples
of the baby's urine, saliva, or other tissue may be tested
for the virus.
How is it treated?
A baby infected with CMV might be treated with ganciclovir
or hyperimmune gamma globulin.
How long will the effects last?
You may feel the effects of the illness for about 2 or 3
weeks, depending on your general health.
A child born with a CMV infection may have lifelong mental
retardation, deafness, or other birth defects.
What can I do to help prevent infection with CMV?
You may be able to prevent becoming infected with CMV by
avoiding contact with the saliva and urine of other people,
especially of young children. Wash your hands thoroughly
with soap and water after you have been around young
children. Also, a vaccine has been developed that appears
to be safe and protective.
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