Cytomegalovirus (patient information)

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Cytomegalovirus
Overview
What are the symptoms?
What are the causes?
Who is at highest risk?
Diagnosis
When to seek urgent medical care?
Treatment options
Where to find medical care for Cytomegalovirus?
What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
Possible complications
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Directions to Hospitals Treating Cytomegalovirus
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Cytomegaloviral diseases are more common in people with weak immune system. Many people can be asymptomatic carrier of the virus and get never affected by it. Thus,it can be seen the pregnant and newborn babies

What are the symptoms of Cytomegalovirus?

Symptoms of CMV can be-

• Sore throat
• Swollen lymph nodes (lymph glands)
• Fever
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Muscle aches
• Loss of appetite

Severe CMV-

• Blindness
• Pneumonia
• Diarrhea
• Bleeding ulcers in the esophagus (windpipe) or intestines
• Inflammation of the brain (encephalitis)
• Seizures

What causes Cytomegalovirus?

CMV can get spread by body fluids, like saliva, blood, urine, semen (sexual contact) and breast milk. CMV can rarely be transmitted by blood transfusion or organ transplantation.

Who is at highest risk?

Cytomegaloviral diseases are more common in people with weak immune system. Many people can be asymptomatic carrier of the virus and get never affected by it. Thus,it can be seen the pregnant and newborn babies

When to seek urgent medical care?

If you think you have the symptoms, call your doctor

Treatment options

Antiviral drugs. If you are pregnant, your doctor may want to test you for CMV and may suggest the test amniocentesis

Where to find medical care for Cytomegalovirus?

Directions to Hospitals Treating Cytomegalovirus

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

It depends on the immune level of the patient

Possible complications

It can lead to the inflammation of eyes, abortion and can affect other organ systems

Sources

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/cytomegalovirusinfections.htmlTemplate:WH Template:WSTemplate:WH