CMV Full Form- Cytomegalovirus

What is CMV? The full form of CMV is Cytomegalovirus. All ages are susceptible to the common virus known as cytomegalovirus (CMV), although a healthy person's immune system typically prevents the virus from making them sick. By the time they are five years old, almost one in three youngsters in the US has already contracted CMV. 

By the age of 40, more than half of adults have CMV infection. CMV can reactivate once it has entered a person's body and remains there for life. Additionally, a person may contract the virus again from a different strain or type. The majority of individuals infected with CMV do not exhibit any symptoms and are unaware that they have the virus.
 

Key Aspects and Facts about Cytomegalovirus

Signs and Symptoms: 

Infections can occasionally result in mild illnesses in healthy individuals, such as:

• Fatigue, 
• fever, 
• sore throat, 
• and swollen glands

Hepatitis (a liver ailment) or mononucleosis can occasionally be brought on by CMV.

When people with compromised immune systems contract CMV, they may experience more severe symptoms that impact the liver, oesophagus, stomach, intestines, eyes, and lungs.

CMV can cause growth, liver, spleen, brain, and lung issues in newborns. Hearing loss is the most frequent long-term health issue in infants with congenital CMV infection; it can appear shortly after delivery or later in childhood.

Transmission: 

Body fluids like saliva, urine, blood, tears, semen, and breast milk can all carry the CMV virus. An infected person can transfer CMV in the following ways:

• Avoid coming into intimate touch with pee or saliva, particularly from infants and young children
• By means of intercourse
• From breastfeeding babies
• By use of blood transfusions and organ transplants

Treatment and Diagnosis: 

Adults with signs of CMV infection can be diagnosed with blood tests. Blood is not the ideal fluid, though, when testing babies who may have a CMV infection. For neonates, tests on their urine or saliva are suggested. Most healthy individuals with CMV infection don't need medical attention. Babies with congenital CMV symptoms and individuals with compromised immune systems can both be treated with medication for CMV infection. Antiviral drugs, particularly valganciclovir, may help newborns who have congenital CMV infection symptoms at birth with their hearing and developmental outcomes. Valganciclovir has only been investigated in infants exhibiting symptoms of congenital CMV infection and has the potential to cause major side effects. The usefulness of valganciclovir as a stand-alone treatment for newborns with hearing loss is not well understood.

Diagnosis in Babies:

Testing a newborn baby's urine (recommended specimen), saliva, or blood can identify a congenital CMV infection. For testing purposes, these specimens need to be obtained two or three weeks after the infant is delivered in order to confirm the diagnosis of congenital CMV infection.

How CMV Spreads

The majority of individuals infected with CMV do not exhibit any symptoms and are unaware that they have the virus. Pregnant women who have CMV are at risk of transmitting the virus to their unborn child. This can occur if you contract CMV for the first time or once more while you are pregnant.

One typical source of CMV is young children.

One in three children has contracted CMV by the time they are five years old, however they typically show no symptoms. Months after an infection, the virus can persist in a child's bodily secretions including urine and saliva. Individuals who spend a lot of time with small children are more likely to contract CMV.

By limiting their contact with infants' and young children's urine and saliva, parents and daycare providers can reduce their risk of contracting CMV.

• Never share glasses, cutlery, or food with a youngster.
• Whether changing a child's diaper or assisting them with using the restroom, wash your hands with soap and water.