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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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Cytomegaloviral diseases, abbreviated as CMV, 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

Diagnosis

Your health care provider will perform a physical exam and feel your belly area. The liver and spleen may be tender when they are gently pressed (palpated). There may be a skin rash.

Special lab tests may be done to check for substances in your blood that are produced by CMV. Other tests will be done to check your body’s response to the CMV infection. This includes a CMV ELISA antibody test and CMV serum PCR test.

Other tests include:

• Blood tests for platelets and white blood cells
• Chemistry panel
• Liver function tests
• Monospot test
• Stool sampling
• Colonoscopy

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.html