Treatments for Cytomegalovirus in Children

How does a doctor treat cytomegalovirus?

Children with a CMV infection may receive

• the anti-viral medication ganciclovir
• CMV-Ig, which contains CMV antibodies from a blood donor.

Data suggests these anti-viral agents can reduce hearing loss, CMV-related hepatitis and CMV-related gastroenteritis in newborns.

Treatment may be prolonged for infants, but rarely requires lifetime management. Solid organ transplant patients may require lifetime management of CMV, in light of the immune-suppression therapy required to prevent organ rejection.