Cytomegalovirus Infection - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Cytomegalovirus Definition

Any of a group of herpes viruses that attack and enlarge epithelial cells. Cytomegalovirus may also be caused a disease of infants characterized by circulatory dysfunction and microcephaly. Cytomegalovirus especially attacks salivary glands and may also be devastating or even fatal to fetuses. Cytomegalovirus infection may also be life threatening for patients who are immunocompromised.

Cytomegalovirus disease occurs worldwide and it may be transmitted by human contact. Cytomegalovirus is also called generalized salivary gland disease, visceral disease virus, troll of transplantation and cytomegalic inclusion disease.

Cytomegalovirus Causes

Cytomegalovirus is a human virus. Cytomegalovirus may causing mild or no symptoms in healthy people, but permanent damage or death to an infected fetus, a transplant patient, or a person with HIV. Cytomegalovirus is also the virus most frequently transmitted to a child before birth. Cytomegalovirus is the most important cause of congenital viral infection in the US. Risk of infection is greatest between 5 to 13 weeks after transplantation.

Cytomegalovirus has been found in the saliva, urine, semen, breast milk, stool, blood, and vaginal and cervical secretions of infected persons. Cytomegalovirus infection is therefore a concern because of the risk of infection to the unborn baby, people who work with children, and immunodeficient people such as transplant recipients and those with HIV.

Cytomegalovirus Symptoms

Cytomegalovirus probably spreads through the body in lymphocytes or mononuclear cells to the lungs, liver, GI tract, eyes, and central nervous system, where it often produces inflammatory reactions.

Initial Cytomegalovirus infection, which may have few symptoms, is always followed by a prolonged, inapparent infection during which the virus resides in cells without causing detectable damage or clinical illness.

The other symptoms of the cytomegalovirus may be included:

• fever
• cough
• general discomfort
• loss of appetite
• fatigue
• sweating, excessive
• muscle aches
• joint pains
• a non-productive cough
• shortness of breath

Cytomegalovirus Treatments

No treatment is generally necessary for cytomegalovirusinfection in the healthy individual since the majority of infections resolve on their own.

Oxygen therapy and ventilatory support may initially be necessary to maintain oxygenation until the infection is brought under control.

Cytomegalovirus may be treated with foscarnet, combined with anti-CMV immune globulin for pneumonitis and possible GI disease.

Ganciclovir treatment is used for patients with depressed immunity who have either sight-related or life-threatening illnesses.