It’s an incredibly common virus, yet the vast majority of people do not know what it is, nor whether they have ever had it. Unfortunately, cytomegalovirus can cause serious problems for some, especially infants, making knowledge the single most important weapon for expectant moms.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is in the family of viruses that cause herpes, mononucleosis, and chicken pox. Once someone is infected, the virus will lie dormant and harmless in the body. With first-time infections or flare-ups, most of the time CMV is asymptomatic or causes only mild flu-like symptoms. For otherwise healthy individuals, an infection will typically clear up without incident, but for people with weakened immune systems and for infants, it can be a serious illness and cause long-term healthy problems.
CMV and pregnancy
According to the National CMV Foundation, congenital CMV is not only the most common viral infection babies are born with, it is the leading non-genetic cause of hearing loss in infants.
An active infection – a new infection, reinfection by a different strain, or a flare up of the dormant virus – is spread to others through body fluids (saliva, urine, breast milk, tears), but in pregnancy, the virus can spread to the unborn child through the placenta. Of women with an active infection during pregnancy, as many as one in three may pass it to their unborn baby.
Statistics show that annually one in every 200 babies is born with congenital CMV, and in most of these cases the women did not know they were infected. Of these babies, one in five will experience health problems, including:
- Hearing loss
- Pneumonia
- Seizures
- Liver problems
- Vision problems
Doctors say knowledge is power where CMV is concerned. Since screening for the virus is not routine, women who plan to become pregnant may want to ascertain they do not carry the dormant virus that could reactivate. For newborns who may have been exposed during birth, pediatricians can be alerted to watch for symptoms, screen, and provide early treatment. This can be crucial since most babies with congenital CMV appear healthy at birth, developing problems sometimes months or years after birth. Most common of these are hearing loss and developmental delays.
Like any virus, women who are pregnant should take precautions to avoid exposure. A first-time infection presents a greater chance of passing the infection to an unborn baby. Experts discourage sharing drinks or food, especially with children, as they are more likely to have an asymptomatic active infection.
Nursing mothers also should take care to prevent exposure to avoid passing an active infection to babies through breast milk.
What you can do
Most people infected with CMV will never experience symptoms, but for those few babies who do develop health problems as a result of exposure, awareness is critical. Talk to your doctor if you:
- Experience extreme fatigue or a mono-like illness during pregnancy
- Believe you were exposed to an active CMV infection
- Have concerns about your health and plan to nurse
There is no cure for CMV, but treatments are available for symptoms and your doctor can advise you on how best to protect yourself and your infant.
Call Stark Women’s Center if you have questions about cytomegalovirus or any other illness that could impact your unborn child. Our doctors are always available for consultations.