Hello Parents,

This entry will deal with the infection caused by cytomegalovirus, or CMV, which is a lot easier to write and say, right?

In this article:

• Defining cytomegalovirus
• CMV infection risks and transmission
• Cytomegalovirus diagnosis and infection symptoms
• Cytomegalovirus during pregnancy
• Treating and preventing CMV

You really should know that a cytomegalovirus infection is the most frequent congenital infection during pregnancy. It occurs more than Zika and HIV combined, and even so, it’s still misunderstood by parents.

While in most cases, the virus is harmless for infected people, in certain conditions it can cause a more serious infection with important repercussions. These can be people with a weak or low immune system, people who have had transplants, and pregnant women. Of course, I will deal with this last case to explain what happens during pregnancy during a CMV infection. I will also talk about possible repercussions for the future mother and congenital or neonatal infection repercussions for the baby.

Today, we know that many congenital defects in babies are caused by CMV infections. That is why I think it important to tell you more about this infection. You can then recognise the symptoms and understand the preventative steps taken.

Defining Cytomegalovirus

Cytomegalovirus part of the same family as herpes. Some define it as “Human Herpes Virus 5” (Health Canada: Herpes Simplex Virus 5). This infection’s characteristics are very similar to those in the same family. These include infectious mononucleosis, roseola, chicken pox and Zona.

Read the next part of this entry, CMV Infection Risks and Transmission.

Photo credit: tashatuvango