Cytomegalovirus During Pregnancy

What is cytomegalovirus?

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the most common viral infection that a baby may get from the mother before or during birth. If you have this infection during pregnancy, it can harm the baby.

How does it occur?

CMV is caused by a virus. The virus is spread from person to person through contact with infected saliva, blood, breast milk, urine, and mucus. It can also be spread when you have sex. Often adults become infected from contact with young children who have the virus. If you are infected with the virus for the first time during pregnancy, your baby may become infected. If you have been infected with the virus before you were pregnant and have another infection during pregnancy, your baby is less likely to become infected or to have any serious CMV-related problems.

What are the symptoms?

CMV usually does not cause any symptoms in adults. Sometimes you may have flulike symptoms such as swollen glands and tiredness.

Most infected babies do not show any symptoms at birth, but many develop problems later. Newborns infected with CMV before birth may have or may develop the following problems:

• small size
• small brain
• enlarged liver and spleen
• hearing loss or eye problems
• jaundice (yellowish skin)
• calcium deposits in the brain
• extra fluid that puts pressure on the brain.

How is it diagnosed?

A routine ultrasound may show something abnormal in the baby. Your healthcare provider will test samples of your blood 3 or 4 weeks apart. Other possible tests are:

• urine tests
• tests of cells from your cervix
• amniocentesis so that a sample of amniotic fluid can be tested
• tests of samples of the baby's urine, saliva, or other tissue after birth.

How is it treated?

A baby infected with CMV might be treated with ganciclovir or hyperimmune gamma globulin.

How long will the effects last?

You may feel the effects of the illness for about 2 or 3 weeks, depending on your general health.

A child born with a CMV infection may have lifelong mental retardation, deafness, or other birth defects.

What can I do to help prevent infection with CMV?

• You may be able to prevent becoming infected with CMV by avoiding contact with the saliva and urine of other people, especially of young children. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water after you have been around young children.
• Reduce the risk of getting infected during sex by always using latex or polyurethane condoms. Have just 1 sexual partner who is not sexually active with anyone else.