Being the
CMV
detectable in saliva, urine and other body fluids, the infection can be present in children without any apparent symptoms, being able to be transmitted unimpeded within the home and school communities.
During pregnancy, it can pass from the mother to the fetus at delivery or even reach the infant through breastfeeding, thus representing a clear example of congenital viral transmission.
Most children with a congenital CMV infection at birth appear to be completely healthy, showing no signs or symptoms of the infection, however in the time after birth, even months or years later, some peculiar signs and disorders may occur, such as some developmental delay or, for example a hearing loss or even a visual disturbance. If the baby’s mother first contracted CMV during pregnancy, the baby is more likely to have a number of possible disorders.
In individuals with normal immune resources, there is no need to intervene with antiviral therapies, the disease being spontaneously regressible, simply by helping with antipyretics and rehydration solutions.
Instead, treatment will need to target individuals with insufficient immune response, with antiviral drugs and with cominitoring of side effects of therapies.
The most recurrent signs and symptoms in children with congenital CMV include:
- premature birth;
- Insufficient birth weight conditions;
- Jaundiced (yellow) manifestation of the skin and eyes;
- Hepatomegaly and liver dysfunction;
- Scattered rashes or spots;
- pneumonia;
- splenomegaly;
- convulsions.
Complications for the child may involve more significant consequences such as:
- Intellectual retardation and disability;
- coordination deficits;
- Hearing loss;
- convulsions.
Since no vaccine is available to prevent cytomegalovirus infection, the only resources to counter and to limit the risk of infection are:
- Assiduous personal hygiene, especially for those at risk.
- Wash and disinfect hands after changing children.
- Wash hands thoroughly after going to the bathroom.
- Wash and disinfect hands before eating, or before preparing food.
- Limit any blood transfusions to only those from individuals screened as CMV seronegative.
