Cytomegalovirus, also called CMV, is a virus in the same family as herpes, which can cause symptoms such as fever, discomfort and stomach swelling. Like herpes, this virus is also present in most people, but only causes symptoms when the immune system is weakened, such as in pregnant women, HIV-positive people, or cancer patients, for example.
During pregnancy, this virus is detected during prenatal exams, but is usually harmless and does not cause any change in the baby, especially when the woman has been infected before even becoming pregnant. However, when a woman becomes infected during pregnancy, the virus can cause problems such as microcephaly and deafness in the baby.
- CMV infection usually causes no symptoms and it is common for people to discover that they are infected when they undergo a specific blood test for the virus.
However, some symptoms can occur when the immune system is weak, such as:
Due to the risk of malformations in the baby, all pregnant women should be tested for the virus, even without symptoms, to start treatment, if necessary, to prevent the virus from affecting the baby. Understand what happens when your baby becomes infected with cytomegalovirus.
Diagnosis of cytomegalovirus infection is made by specific blood tests, which show if there are antibodies to the virus. When the test result shows the result of the CMV IgM reagent, it indicates that the viral infection is always at the beginning, but if the result is an IgG CMV reagent, it means that the virus has been present in the body longer, then it remains for a lifetime, just like herpes.
During pregnancy, if the result is an IgM CMV reagent, the pregnant woman should start treatment with antivirals or immunoglobulins, to avoid transmission to the baby. See how treatment is performed in these cases.
Treatment of cytomegalovirus infection can be done with antiviral drugs, such as ganciclovir and foscarnet, for example, but they have a high toxicity to blood cells and kidneys, and this treatment is not recommended by the doctor, only in particular situations such as during pregnancy or when the infection is highly developed, for example.
Thus, the use of painkillers, such as acetaminophen, is generally recommended to relieve symptoms, such as headaches and fever, for example. This treatment usually lasts about 14 days and can be done at home using medications indicated by your doctor, rest and adequate water intake.
Complications of cytomegalovirus infection occur primarily in children infected with the virus during pregnancy and include:
In adults, complications occur when the infection develops greatly, such as in people with weakened immune systems, resulting mainly in blindness and loss of leg movement, for example.
In addition, the virus can also be transmitted by blood transfusion or from mother to child, especially when the pregnant woman becomes infected during pregnancy.
To avoid cytomegalovirus contamination, it is important to wash your hands thoroughly, especially before and after going to the bathroom and changing your child’s diaper, for example, in addition to washing food properly during cooking.
In addition, it’s important to use condoms during sex and avoid sharing personal items with others.