Cytomegalo Virus

Cytomegalo Virus: It is also known as congenital CMV. This disease is caused by cytomegalovirus. Young children are most affected by this disease. There are no symptoms present and no pain exists.

Persons with weakened immune system, newborn babies and pregnant women are at risk for cytomegalovirus. Mainly salivary glands are attacked by cytomegalovirus. The infection of CMV can be transmitted by direct skin-to-skin contact and sexual contact.

Causes:

This disease can be developed when infection of CMV transmitted to the fetus through the placenta by a pregnant woman. When a mother develops a problem, it may be possible that there is no symptoms exist. Children are commonly affected by this disease. Causes of this disease include jaundice, intracranial calcifications, rashes and inflammated retina.

Signs and symptoms:

• Seizures
• Jaundice
• High fever
• Rashes at birth
• Size of the head is small
• headache
• Low birth weight
• Severe tiredness
• Size of the liver become large
• Pneumonia

Diagnosis:

CT scan of the head, X-ray, and fundoscopy will be recommended by the health care providers to diagnose cytomegalovirus. Sometimes he may take blood test and examine the level of Bilirubin. Torch screen and antibody titer may also effective to detect this disease.

Specific treatment to control the disease:

The type of treatment depends on the signs and symptoms of the disease. Specific treatment such as physical therapy is effective to treat cytomegalovirus disease. Sometimes drugs such as ganciclovir may help to reduce hearing loss and low immunity. Sometimes anti-virus medicines such as Valganciclovir will be preferred by your health care provider.

Complications of cytomegalovirus:

• Deafness
• Psychomotor retardation

Prevention:

Little prevention such as male condom or the saliva can be transmitted by oral intercourse and kissing. Even infants or newborns saliva or urine can carry this disease to other. So washing hands properly and washing the diapers can reduce the infection of CMV which can be carried by infants. No certain vaccine is developed yet. Patients should be avoided sharing contaminated items such as utensils and drinking glasses. Good personal hygiene is the best way to prevent this disease. Minimize mouth contact with young children who have affected by cytomegalovirus.

When to seek your child’s doctor advice

If your child has following symptoms, you should call your child’s doctor immediately.

• Muscle aches
• High fever
• Severe headache
• Severe tiredness
• Diseases like cancer