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What is congenital cytomegalovirus?

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a virus related to the herpes virus group of infections. Like herpes, it is inactive at times, but it is incurable and is a lifetime infection. It’s the most common congenital viral infection.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about six in 1,000 babies born in the United States are infected with cytomegalovirus. Most of these babies appear completely normal at birth, but about 20 percent of them will develop symptoms related to breathing, hearing and seeing, as well as mental disabilities, as they grow.

If we find that your baby is infected with CMV, treatment should begin right away to ensure that the condition has a minimal effect on her health.

Symptoms & Causes

What are the symptoms of congenital cytomegalovirus?

Most babies born with congenital cytomegalovirus experience no immediate symptoms; however, premature birth or abnormally low birth weight are possible signs of infection.

Some babies who appear healthy at birth may develop problems as they grow. These may include the following:

If you know your child was born with a CMV infection, make sure to have her hearing and vision checked regularly to monitor for any problems.

What causes congenital cytomegalovirus?

CMV without symptoms is common in people of all ages.

The virus lives in saliva, urine, semen, and other body fluids. It is easily spread in households and in daycare centers. It can be also transmitted from an infected mother to the fetus during pregnancy.
 

Diagnosis & Treatments

How do we diagnose congenital cytomegalovirus?

Most CMV infections in the mother are not diagnosed because the virus produces few symptoms. However, the virus can be detected using the following tests:

  • Blood test: Checking for antibodies in the mother’s bloodstream
  • Swab culture: Taking a sample with a cotton swab from the throat of the mother or the baby
  • Urine test: Checking the urine of the mother or the baby

If you are pregnant and know that you’ve had CMV in the past or know that you’re currently infected, ask your doctor to perform a test.

After we complete all necessary tests, our experts meet to review and discuss what they have learned. Then we will meet with you and your family to discuss the results and outline the best treatment options.

How does Boston Children’s treat congenital cytomegalovirus?

Physicians in our Division of Infectious Diseases care for children and adolescents with a variety of infections, including children with congenital cytomegalovirus. In addition, we are dedicated to researching better ways to diagnose, treat, and prevent infectious diseases.

We treat babies born with congenital CMV with a course of intravenous antiviral medication over a period of several weeks. The most commonly used treatments for congenital CMV are ganciclovir and valganciclovir. Though CMV is a lifelong infection, most babies who receive this treatment won’t experience any other symptoms.

Is there any way to prevent infection?

Although an infected person may transmit the virus at any time, proper hand washing with soap and water is effective in removing the virus from the hands. It’s also best to refrain from sharing food and drink with others while you are pregnant. Research is also underway to develop a vaccine to provide immunity to CMV.

What is my child’s long-term outlook?

If your child is treated early, there should be no serious consequences. However, if treatment is delayed, your child may suffer some serious health problems as a result of the infection.

Research & Clinical Trials

Our areas of innovation for congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV)

Boston Children’s Hospital's Fetal Care and Surgery Center combines a tradition of excellence with innovative research.

Researchers are currently investigating new ways to prevent in utero transmission of cytomegalovirus (CMV) with the hope that the study results will contribute to developing a maternal vaccine for CMV.

Read more about this and other ongoing research studies.