What is cytomegalovirus infection? What are the manifestations, causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cytomegalovirus infection?

What is cytomegalovirus infection? What are the manifestations, causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cytomegalovirus infection?

What is cytomegalovirus infection? What are the manifestations, causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cytomegalovirus infection?

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is very common in the human population, but most people do not have symptoms. This condition is called "invisible infection" of cytomegalovirus and generally does not require treatment. The opposite of "invisible infection" is "dominant infection", which is the obvious disease and symptoms after infection with cytomegalovirus. The most common disease caused by cytomegalovirus is "mononucleosis", which can be expressed as fever, fatigue, limb pain, sore throat, neck mass (neck lymph node enlargement). The treatment of ganciclovir is very effective.

What is the performance of cytomegalovirus infection?

• Adults. Common symptoms caused by adult cytomegalovirus infection, similar to infectious mononucleosis (caused by EB virus infection), often manifest as fever, fatigue, and some patients can touch a small mass (neck lymph nodes) in the neck. Occasionally, gastrointestinal manifestations, such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloody stools or black hair, there are some other rare types of performance.
• Children. The symptoms of cytomegalovirus infection in children are more prominent. Neonates with congenital infections are mostly asymptomatic at birth, and some will experience hearing loss gradually; about 10% will have performance at birth, such as low body weight, hepatosplenomegaly, bleeding spots on the skin and jaundice, and possibly Small head, epilepsy, feeding difficulties, eye abnormalities, deafness, etc. Children who are exposed to cytomegalovirus, such as vaginal secretions and milk, are usually asymptomatic after birth, and may have temporary infection symptoms, which have no effect on growth and development. Healthy children are also asymptomatic in getting infections in kindergartens and other environments. About 10% will show signs of mononucleosis, such as fever, fatigue, sore throat, and enlarged lymph nodes in the neck. 
• Those with impaired immune function. Those with impaired immune function are more likely to develop severe symptoms, such as hepatitis and colitis in liver transplant recipients; pneumonia is most common in lung transplant recipients and bone marrow transplant recipients.

What are the hazards of neonatal cytomegalovirus infection?
Intrauterine infection in pregnant women can lead to fetal abortion, stillbirth, and birth defects. In severe cases, there will be systemic infections, such as jaundice with hepatosplenomegaly, intrauterine growth retardation syndrome, microcephaly, thrombocytopenia, intracranial calcification, and deafness. Combined pneumonia can lead to respiratory failure, which can lead to liver failure and can all die.

Can cytomegalovirus infection cause death?
A small number of children with congenital infections have serious symptoms and even life-threatening. Even if they receive anti-viral treatment and intensive care, they may die in a short period of time. Children with congenital infections (symptomatic and asymptomatic) have an overall mortality rate of 4% to 8% within 1 year of birth. Most babies die from virus-associated hemophagocytic syndrome, or various severe organ failures.

Does congenital cytomegalovirus infection affect your baby's growth and mental development?
possible. Among the surviving children, there may be various neurological sequelae such as microcephaly, mental retardation, cerebral palsy, and hearing impairment. In asymptomatic children, although the risk is lower than that of symptomatic children, neurological dysplasia may occur later.


Will cytomegalovirus infection be transmitted to children through mom?
meeting. Newborns and babies may develop intrauterine infection with cytomegalovirus during maternal viremia, cytomegalovirus when exposed to birth canal secretions, or breast milk infection after birth.

How is cytomegalovirus transmitted?
Cytomegalovirus can be detected in various body fluids, including urine, blood, semen, cervix, feces, tears, and breast milk. It can be transmitted in a variety of ways, including sexual contact transmission, blood transmission, close living (exposure to viruses from the respiratory tract and urine), and mother-to-child transmission.

Which populations are more prone to cytomegalovirus infection?
Everyone can be exposed to and infected, but most people do not have symptoms. People with low immune system function, such as patients who have undergone organ transplantation, AIDS patients, long-term hospitalization, premature infants, etc., are more likely to cause serious symptoms and even life-threatening after infection with cytomegalovirus.


What tests may be needed to suspect a cytomegalovirus infection?
Blood routine, stool routine, liver function, antibody testing, etc.

What diseases can cytomegalovirus infection be confused with?
In normal adults, cytomegalovirus infection is similar to infectious mononucleosis caused by EB virus infection and needs to be identified.


Which department does cytomegalovirus infection generally go to?
In the Department of Infectious Diseases, children can also see pediatrics.

How to treat cytomegalovirus infection? How long does it take to treat?

• Asymptomatic without treatment. 
• Patients with normal immune function are usually self-limiting even if they have symptoms. They can recover on their own within a few days to several weeks without anti-viral treatment. 
• Anti-viral drugs such as ganciclovir may be used in patients with impaired immune function, depending on the patient's response to the drug.

What kind of medicine do patients with cytomegalovirus infection need? What are the common side effects of drugs?
The main treatment is ganciclovir, which is safer.

Can cytomegalovirus infection be completely cured?
In patients with normal immune-positive cells, many can heal without treatment, and some patients who require anti-viral treatment can achieve good results after standard treatment. Only children with congenital cytomegalovirus with severe symptoms and diseases are more likely to die.


What should I do if I find a cytomegalovirus infection during pregnancy?
Pregnant women find new cytomegalovirus infections early in pregnancy. Because of the high probability of intrauterine infection and serious consequences, it is recommended to stop pregnancy. If a new cytomegalovirus infection occurs in the middle and late stages of pregnancy, it is necessary to closely observe whether the fetus is deformed.

What should be paid attention to in life and diet for patients with cytomegalovirus infection?
Regardless of symptoms, the following points should be noted:

• Avoid kissing the lower lip and lip area of ​​young children and children; 
• Do not share cutlery, drinking utensils, drinks or food with smaller children or young children;
• Wash the nose, saliva and diapers, wash hands carefully, or use gloves; 
• If cytomegalovirus mononucleosis has been diagnosed, then during the contagion period (saliva, genital secretions) Or active virus in semen) should avoid intimate contact with sexual partners (especially pregnant women).

How to prevent cytomegalovirus infection?
Asymptomatic infections are very common and difficult to prevent, and the vaccine is still in trial. There is also a lack of valuable programs for maternal and child blockade, focusing on prenatal care, early detection and corresponding treatment.