10/16/09

What is Congenital Cytomegalovirus?

Cytomegalovirus is a member of the Herpesviridae family of viruses. It is a very common virus that infects people of all ages and in all parts of the world. Cytomegalovirus is spread by person-to-person contact with body fluids from a person who is excreting the virus, from mother to fetus, or by blood transfusion or organ transplantation from a CMV seropositive donor. Congenital CMV infection occurs when CMV is transmitted from mother to fetus. Congenital CMV disease is diagnosed when an infant is born excreting the virus and has symptoms of the infection. In the United States, approximately 4,000,000 babies are born each year and one percent (40,000) of them will have congenital CMV infection. The majority of these infected infants will not experience any obvious symptoms of the infection; however,     5 to 10 percent (up to 4,000) will have one or more symptoms and/or abnormalities characteristic of congenital CMV. Some problems at birth will resolve, such as an enlarged liver or spleen. However, abnormalities involving the central nervous system produce chronic conditions, such deafness, blindness, seizures, cerebral palsy, and developmental delays.

National CMV Registry                                                                                                            

General Information

· Every Hour, congenital CMV causes a child to become disabled.

 · CMV is the most common virus transmitted to a pregnant woman's unborn child

·  Approximately 1 in 150 children is born with congenital CMV infection

· Approximately 1 in 750 children is born with or develops permanent disabilities due to CMV

· Approximately 8,000 children each year suffer permanent disabilities caused by CMV

· An estimated 400 infants of live births will die do to Congenital CMV.  

Examples of Symptoms and Disabilities Caused by Congenital CMV

*Hearing Loss     *Vision Loss      *Mental Disabilities      *Lung Problems      *Bleeding Problems       *Spleen Problems     *Jaundice          *Liver Problems      *Growth Problems     *Feeding Issues     *Failure to Thrive      *Seizures Disorders      *Sleeping Issues                   *Sensory Issues     * ADHD/Autism    * Small Head  Microcephaly   *Small Brain   * Cerebral Palsy    *Intracranial Calcifications      * Death

CMV can cause symptoms when the infant  is born or later in the baby's life.  In some children symptoms and problems arise months or years after birth.   In some Children symptoms and problems can arise months or years after birth. In some Children symptoms and problems can arise months or years after birth.

Is there treatment?

Currently, no treatment is recommended for CMV infection in pregnant women, but there is a study for the use of Cytogam during pregnacy. (When I was pregnant with Maximus we recieved 2 treatments of Cytogam and we noticed major improvements in Maxi)  Antiviral drugs, such as Ganciclovir and Valganciclovir, are being tested in infants born with congenital CMV; although, due to strong side effects, ganciclovir should only be considered for infants with severe congenital CMV disease. Vaccines for preventing CMV infection are still in the research and developmental stage.