Cytomegalovirus (CMV) ( MUST READ)

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common virus that belongs to the herpes family of viruses. 
It's spread through bodily fluids, such as saliva and urine, and can be passed on through close contact with young children, such as when changing nappies.
Most cases of CMV don't cause symptoms. If you do have symptoms, they're often similar to flu or Glandular fever, and include a high temperature (fever), sore throatt and swollen glands.
You can get CMV at any age, but many people are first infected during childhood and are unaware they've been infected.
When you develop a CMV infection for the first time, it's known as primary CMV. It's thought that 50-80% of adults in the UK are infected with CMV.
Once you've been infected, the CMV virus stays in your body for the rest of your life, but in most cases it remains inactive and doesn't cause further problems.

Congenital CMV

If a pregnant woman has an active CMV infection, the virus can be passed to her unborn baby. When it affects a baby in the womb, it's known as congenital CMV.
In the UK, it's estimated that one to two babies in every 200 will be born with congenital CMV. Of these, about 13% will have problems at birth, such as hearing loss and learning difficulties, with a similar number developing problems later on.

CMV isn't usually diagnosed because it doesn't cause symptoms for most people. If you're at risk of developing complications, a blood test can help determine whether you've ever had CMV or if you've recently caught it for the first time.
Urine and saliva swab tests can be used to find out whether a newborn baby has congenital CMV.
Most CMV infections are mild, don't cause symptoms and don't need to be treated. If you do have symptoms, painkillers can be used to help reduce any pain or fever.
Active CMV in someone with a weakened immune system is usually treated with antiviral medicines, which slow the spread of the virus. Some cases may need to be treated in hospital. Babies with congenital CMV may also need antiviral treatment.
It's not always possible to prevent the spread of CMV, but you can reduce your risk by practising good hygiene, such as regularly washing your hands with soap and warm water. This is particularly important after changing nappies. You should also try to avoid coming into contact with the saliva of young children.
Research is currently being carried out to find a possible vaccine for CMV. However, it's unlikely that a vaccine will be available for several years.


Most babies with congenital CMV infection never show signs or have health problems. However, some babies may have health problems that are apparent at birth or may develop later during infancy or childhood. Although not fully understood, it is possible for CMV to cause the death of a baby during pregnancy (pregnancy loss).
Some babies may have signs of congenital CMV infection at birth. These signs include

• Premature birth,
• Liver, lung and spleen problems,
• Small size at birth,
• Small head size, and
• Seizures.

Some babies with signs of congenital CMV infection at birth may have long-term health problems, such as

• Hearing loss,
• Vision loss,
• Small head size,
• Lack of coordination,
• Weakness or problems using muscles, and
• Seizures.

Some babies without signs of congenital CMV infection at birth may have hearing loss. Hearing loss may be present at birth or may develop later in babies who passed their newborn hearing test

I cant stress enough, for pregnant women to be careful around young children, or anyone with CMV!