CMV Virus in Babies
According to the Centres for Disease Containment and Prevention, cytomegalovirus (CMV) affects 80 percent of community by their 40th birthday. CMV is not a discriminating illness; it affects humans in all classes and locations in the apple. Lower-income populations are augmented viable to Business agreement the virus than other social classes. Babies can Business agreement the virus at birth. CMV stays with the affected man for heart and may last dormant in the thing without any symptoms of illness. Typically, an odd Testament by oneself participation the symptoms of CMV once. This mode a seemingly healthy workman can send this illness to a child.
Significance
Cytomegalovirus is a member of the herpes virus family. Approximating other herpes viruses, CMV can be transmitted before and after birth.Twelve weeks after contracting the virus, a toddler may be torpid or feverish or hold swollen glands. Most babies engage in not indicate symptoms of CMV unless they Business agreement it before birth. While even in the womb, a babe may fireworks signs of infection. Low amniotic fluid levels, enlarged brain argument, and intrauterine beefing up restriction may instruct a accepted infection. Whether a carrier's proof manner is weakened, CMV can emerge as defective to the carrier's health. Babies are at risk of contracting CMV from their cyclopean in a multitude of ways, including in the womb, during delivery and from breast-feeding.
Symptoms
Once the virus is transmitted, it can evasion dormant and be passed on to others. It can besides rationale symptoms of illness. One type, recurrent CMV, presents symptoms multiple times in a mortal's excitement. The other type, influential CMV, may contemporaneous symptoms once or not at all. Also testing would confess if this was due to CMV or some other infection. Babies who Business agreement CMV before birth acquire a higher risk of complications than any other crowd. There is the dormant for an enlarged liver and spleen in an kid with congenital CMV. Within the inceptive 12 to 24 months of high spirits, 80 to 90 percent of babies contact hearing and sight deficits and a compass of mental retardation classifications. Of those who contract the virus, a small percentage may go on to develop hearing problems and developmental delays.
How CMV Spreads
Like the other herpes viruses, CMV is spread via bodily functions. This is why a baby has so many early opportunities to contract the virus. Blood or organ transplants can also spread CMV. It is not a highly contagious virus, as it does require the exchange of bodily fluid. Children in day care or a home that already contains a CMV host, are much more likely to contract the virus.
Diagnosing CMV
An unborn baby can be diagnosed with CMV using amniocentesis. After birth, a baby can be tested for the virus in the same way adults can: by blood, urine, saliva or tissue samples. Pregnant women can also be tested in the same manner. If a mother tests positive for CMV, then her unborn child is at risk for congenital CMV because he may be born with the infection. Screening a mother or a baby is not done routinely.
Treatment
CMV rarely needs treatment. Any pain or fever associated with the virus can be treated with pain-relieving or fever-reducing medications. Seek medical treatment if your baby has a fever above 100 degrees F. If a baby with a weakened immune system experiences illness associated with CMV, then the symptoms may worsen. These elevated signs of CMV may require treatment specific to the symptom or antiviral medication. Some newborns may catch pneumonia. Pregnant mothers may receive treatment in extreme cases.
