Cytomegalovirus

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KEY POINTS

• Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a kind of herpes virus that infects most people, but rarely causes illness. If you are healthy, CMV is usually not a problem and does not need treatment. If a woman gets the infection during pregnancy, it can cause serious birth defects in her baby.
• If you have HIV or a weakened immune system from a transplant, your healthcare provider may prescribe medicine for you to take to help prevent a more serious infection.
• You can help prevent CMV if you wash your hands often, and use latex or polyurethane condoms during foreplay and every time you have vaginal, oral, or anal sex.

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What is cytomegalovirus?

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a kind of herpes virus that infects most people, but rarely causes illness. Other kinds of herpes virus include the ones that cause fever blisters, chickenpox, and genital warts.

Once you've been infected, the CMV virus stays in your body for the rest of your life, but in most cases it remains inactive and doesn't cause further problems. It is possible to reinfected with a different strain of the CMV virus. CMV can be reactivated in people who have weakened immune system from:

• Taking medicines to prevent organ transplant rejection
• Cancer treatment
• HIV/AIDS
• Being in the hospital for a long time

CMV can cause serious problems in the brain, liver, lungs, and eyes. It can be life-threatening if you have a weakened immune system.

If a woman gets the infection during pregnancy, it can cause serious birth defects in her baby.

What is the cause?

CMV spreads from person to person from semen, urine, and saliva. Men, women, and children of all ages can get CMV. You can get infected through:

• Unprotected sex
• Blood transfusions
• Not washing hands after changing a diaper

What are the symptoms?

CMV usually does not cause any symptoms for many months or even years. If you do start having symptoms, they may include:

• Fever
• Loss of appetite
• Muscle aches
• Feeling very tired or weak
• Swollen glands
• Sore throat

How is it diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider will ask about your symptoms and medical history and examine you. You may have a blood test.

How is it treated?

If you are healthy, CMV is usually not a problem and does not need treatment.

If you have had an organ transplant, your healthcare provider may prescribe medicine to help prevent CMV infection.

If you have a weakened immune system and are reinfected, you may be treated with antiviral medicines and immune globulin.

How can I take care of myself?

Follow the full course of treatment prescribed by your healthcare provider. Ask your healthcare provider:

• How and when you will get your test results
• If there are activities you should avoid and when you can return to normal activities
• How to take care of yourself at home
• What symptoms or problems you should watch for and what to do if you have them

Make sure you know when you should come back for a checkup.

How can I help prevent infection?

There is no vaccine for CMV, but you can help prevent CMV if you:

• Wash your hands often and especially after using the restroom, coughing, sneezing, or blowing your nose. Also wash your hands before eating or touching your eyes.
• If you take care of young children, wash your hands often and dispose of diapers properly.
• Keep surfaces like tables, doorknobs, and desks clean. Wipe them down with a household disinfectant according to directions on the label.
• Practice safe sex:
  • Use latex or polyurethane condoms during foreplay and every time you have vaginal, oral, or anal sex.
  • Have just 1 sexual partner who is not having sex with anyone else.