CYTOMEGALOVIRUS INFECTION

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CYTOMEGALOVIRUS INFECTION
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What is Cytomegalovirus?

• Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a member of the herpes
  virus group, which includes herpes simplex virus
  types 1 2, varicella-zoster virus (chickenpox)
  and Epstein-Barr virus (which causes
  mononucleosis)
• Found universally throughout all geographic
  locations and socioeconomics groups
• Infects between 50 and 85 of adults in the
  United States by 40 years of age
• Virus most frequently transmitted to a child
  before birth

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High-Risk Groups

• The unborn child during pregnancy
• People who work with children
• Immunocompromised person, such as an organ
  transplant recipients and person infected with HIV

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Contact/Spreading of the Virus

• Infectious CMV may be shed in the bodily fluids
  of any previously infected person, and thus may
  be found in urine, saliva, blood, tears, semen
  and breast milk.
• Shedding of the virus may take place
  intermittently, without any detectable signs, and
  without causing symptoms.

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Lab Work

• Blood sample, taken upon suspicion of CMV, and
  another one taken within 2 weeks
• Virus culture can be performed at any time the
  patient is symptomatic
• Other lab work include urine, throat swabs, and
  tissue samples

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Symptoms of Cytomegalovirus

• Fever
• Sore throat
• Red tonsils
• Enlarged lymph nodes
• Mild-like Hepatitis
• Mononucleosis-like symptoms

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Mononucleosis-Mouth Sore throat and red tonsils
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Outcome of Cytomegalovirus

• Currently no treatment exists for CMV infection
  in the healthy individual.
• Antiviral therapy is now being evaluated in
  infants.
• Ganicilovir treatment is used for patients with
  depressed immunity who have either sight-related
  or life-threatening illnesses.
• Vaccines are still in research and development
  stage