Symptoms of cytomegalovirus (CMV) 

Most cases of CMV don't cause any symptoms and you may not even realise you're infected. 

If you do experience symptoms, they'll be similar to flu symptoms or symptoms of glandular fever. They can include:



a high temperature of 38C (100.4F) or above



extreme tiredness



sore throat



swollen glands



muscle and joint pain



loss of appetite



hepatitis (inflammation of the liver) 



 

These symptoms will usually last for a couple of weeks.

If CMV recurs in someone who's otherwise healthy, including during pregnancy, it will cause few, if any, symptoms.

 

Weakened immune system

Active CMV infection in someone with a weakened immune system can cause a wide range of symptoms, including:



a high temperature



diarrhoea



shortness of breath



visual problems – such as blind spots, blurring and floaters



pneumonia (inflammation of the tissue in the lungs)



retinitis – inflammation of the retina (the light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the eye)



hepatitis – inflammation of the liver



These symptoms occur because the virus can quickly spread throughout the body, damaging one or more organs, particularly the digestive system, lungs and eyes.

Contact your GP or treatment team immediately if you have one or more of the above symptoms and your immune system is weakened by HIV or organ transplantation.

 

Congenital CMV

Around 13% of babies born with congenital CMV will have symptoms at birth. A similar number of babies who don't have symptoms at birth will develop problems at a later stage.

 

Symptoms at birth

Symptoms of congenital CMV at birth can include:



jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes)



pneumonia (lung infection)



a rash consisting of small, purplish spots



an enlarged liver and spleen



low birth weight



seizures (fits)



small head 



Some of these symptoms can be treated, but some babies will develop long-term conditions as a result of the infection.

 

Long-term problems

A small proportion of babies with congenital CMV (including those with no symptoms at birth) will develop one or more physical or mental problems at a later stage. These can include:



hearing loss (see below)



visual impairment or blindness



learning difficulties



dyspraxia (lack of physical co-ordination)



epilepsy (a condition that affects the brain and causes repeated seizures)



CMV infection is responsible for around 25% of cases of hearing loss during childhood.

Hearing loss caused by congenital CMV may develop during the first few years of life. This usually gets worse over time. It can also be permanent and range from mild to total.

The hearing problems can affect either one or both ears. Children with hearing loss in both ears are also likely to experience difficulties with speech and communication as they get older.

 

Treating cytomegalovirus (CMV) 

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections only usually require treatment if there's a risk of serious complications.

Most CMV infections don't cause any symptoms and don't need to be treated.

If you have symptoms after being infected with CMV for the first time, over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen can help relieve the symptoms of pain and fever (however, children younger than 16 shouldn't take aspirin).

Drinking plenty of water will help relieve the symptoms of a fever and sore throat, and will prevent dehydration.

 

Antiviral medicines

Antiviral medicine may be needed to treat congenital CMV or active CMV in someone with a weakened immune system.

This medicine can't cure the infection, but it can slow its progress and limit the possibility of serious damage.

Ganciclovir (Cymevene) is an antiviral medicine often used to treat CMV. An oral form called valganciclovir (Valcyte) is often used. However, it can't be prescribed during pregnancy.

Ganciclovir can cause several side effects, the main one being bone marrow suppression. Bone marrow is the spongy material at the centre of some bones. It produces the stem cells that produce blood cells and platelets.

Suppressed bone marrow can lead to a low white blood cell count, which increases the risk of serious bacterial infection. Low levels of platelets can cause increased bleeding, and a lack of red blood cells can cause anaemia, which may lead to severe tiredness.

Other possible antiviral medicines include foscarnet (Foscavir) and cidofovir (Vistide).

A course of antiviral medicine will usually be prescribed for a minimum of 14 days.

 

Hospital treatment

A baby born with congenital CMV may need to stay in hospital until their normal organ function returns. They will also need to stay in hospital if they're being treated with the antiviral medicine ganciclovir, at least when treatment is first started.

Once the baby is well enough to go home, the course of treatment can be completed with valganciclovir. In many cases, valganciclovir can be given from the start of the treatment.

Your baby should also have regular hearing and eye tests to check for any problems.

Adults with a weakened immune system and organ damage from CMV may need to be admitted to hospital for treatment.

 

Preventing cytomegalovirus (CMV) 

It's not always possible to prevent a cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection, but there are steps you can take to reduce the risk.

Most people don't worry about preventing CMV, because it doesn't often cause symptoms. However, you should be careful if you're at increased risk of developing more serious problems or if you're planning a pregnancy.

Newborn babies, pregnant women, people receiving an organ transplant and people with a weakened immune system have an increased risk of developing serious problems.

A person donating an organ will be screened for CMV before or at the time of the organ transplant.

 

Good hygiene

Maintaining high levels of hygiene is a simple measure that may help prevent a CMV infection spreading. For example, always wash your hands with soap and warm water:



before preparing, serving or eating food



after going to the toilet



after changing a baby’s nappy



after coming into contact with bodily fluids, such as semen or urine



You should clean any surfaces that have come into contact with bodily fluids, and wear disposable gloves while doing this.

 

Pregnant women

CMV infections are common in young children. If you're pregnant, you can reduce your risk of becoming infected by taking some simple measures, such as:



regularly washing your hands with soap and hot water, particularly if you've been changing nappies, or you work in a nursery or day care centre



not kissing young children on the face; it's better to kiss them on the head or give them a hug



not sharing food or eating utensils with young children, or drinking from the same glass as them



These precautions are particularly important if your job brings you into close contact with young children. If it does, you can have a blood test to find out whether you've previously been infected with CMV.

CMV is particularly dangerous to the baby if the pregnant mother hasn't had a previous CMV infection. However, all pregnant women should follow the hygiene precautions above to reduce their risk of infection, even if they've had CMV before, because they could be infected with a different strain of the virus.

 

Organ transplants

CMV used to be one of the main causes of illness and death during the first six months after having an organ transplant. However, antiviral medicines have proved very effective in preventing CMV infections in people who've received transplants.

Therefore, it's likely that you'll be given antiviral medicines to help prevent a CMV infection developing into a problem if you're having an organ transplant.

 

Weakened immune system 

Your immune system may be weakened if you have HIV, or you're taking medication to prevent a transplanted organ being rejected. The immune system is the body's natural defence against illness and infection. If it's weakened, you'll be more vulnerable to infections, including CMV.

As well as maintaining a high level of hygiene, you can help prevent infections developing by:



having daily showers or baths, and washing your clothes, towels and bed linen regularly 



avoiding contact with people who have serious infections, such as chickenpox or flu



taking extra care not to cut or graze your skin (if you do, clean the area thoroughly with warm water, dry it and cover it with a sterile dressing)



eating a healthy, balanced diet that includes plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables



resting when you need to



asking your friends and relatives to make sure their flu vaccines, MMR vaccines and chickenpox vaccines are up-to-date before they visit you 



Contact your GP if you have a weakened immune system and you think you may have an infection – for example, if you have a high temperature of 38C (100.4F) or above.

 

Vaccination

Research is currently underway to find vaccines for CMV. 

One possible vaccine is aimed at young women. The theory is that vaccinating women before they become pregnant could reduce the risk of congenital CMV.

Another possible vaccine is aimed at toddlers. By reducing their chance of getting active CMV, their mothers may be protected from CMV during pregnancy.

A third possible vaccine is aimed at people having organ transplants. The aim is to prevent the donated organ causing a new CMV infection or reactivating an existing CMV infection in the person receiving the transplant.

However, because of the stringent safety checks that all new medicines and vaccinations have to go through, it's likely to be several years before routine vaccinations against CMV are available.