How do you get CMV virus?
CMV spreads from person to person through body fluids, such as blood, saliva, urine, semen and breast milk. There is no cure, but there are medications that can help treat the symptoms.
How is CMV virus treated?
The drug of choice for treatment of CMV disease is intravenous ganciclovir, although valganciclovir may be used for nonsevere CMV treatment in selected cases. Ganciclovir is a nucleoside analogue that inhibits DNA synthesis in the same manner as acyclovir.
Should I worry about CMV?
CMV infection usually isn’t harmful in healthy adults or children because their immune system protects their bodies from infection. But CMV can cause serious health problems for some, including: Babies who get infected before birth.
Can CMV go away on its own?
Cytomegalovirus Outlook The virus stays inactive in your body and can cause more problems later. This reactivation is most common in people who’ve had stem cell and organ transplants. Your outlook depends on your overall health. In people who have strong immune systems, CMV symptoms almost always go away on their own.
What happens if CMV is left untreated?
If untreated, it can spread throughout the body, infecting organ after organ. It may cause respiratory problems, damage to the central nervous system, bleeding ulcers in the digestive system, and CMV retinitis, which can lead to blindness.
How common is CMV in adults?
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a virus found around the world. It is related to the viruses that cause chickenpox and infectious mononucleosis (mono). Between 50% and 80% of adults in the United States have had a CMV infection by age 40. Once CMV is in a person’s body, it stays there for life.
What are the symptoms of cytomegalovirus (CMV)?
Most healthy people who are infected with CMV may experience no symptoms. Some experience minor symptoms. People who are more likely to experience signs and symptoms of CMV include: Newborns who became infected with CMV before they were born (congenital CMV ). Infants who become infected during birth or shortly afterward (perinatal CMV ).
How dangerous is cytomegalovirus?
Over half of adults by age 40 have been infected with CMV. Once CMV is in a person’s body, it stays there for life and can reactivate. Most people infected with CMV show no signs or symptoms. However, CMV infection can cause serious health problems for people with weakened immune systems and for unborn babies (congenital CMV).
What are the symptoms of infectious mononucleosis in adults?
When first infected, some adults may have symptoms similar to infectious mononucleosis, including: 1 Fatigue. 2 Fever. 3 Sore throat. 4 Muscle aches.
Who is at greater risk of signs and symptoms of CMV?
People at greater risk of signs and symptoms of CMV include: 1 Newborns infected with CMV before birth (congenital CMV). 2 Infants who become infected during birth or shortly afterward (perinatal CMV)… 3 People with weakened immune systems, for example due to organ transplant or HIV infection.