When no IgM antibodies are present, but IgG antibodies are present, a person is CMV positive. This means that he/she has had a CMV infection in the past but does not have an acute infection. When IgM and IgG antibodies are present, there is an acute infection.
Is CMV serious?
Usually CMV is a mild disease that does not cause any serious problems in healthy children and adults. Most people get flu-like symptoms or an illness similar to mononucleosis, if they develop symptoms at all.
What does CMV cause?
Occasionally, CMV can cause mononucleosis or hepatitis (liver problem). People with weakened immune systems who get CMV can have more serious symptoms affecting the eyes, lungs, liver, esophagus, stomach, and intestines. Babies born with CMV can have brain, liver, spleen, lung, and growth problems.
Is CMV a STD?
CMV can be sexually transmitted. It can also be transmitted via breast milk, transplanted organs and, rarely, blood transfusions. Although the virus is not highly contagious, it has been shown to spread in households and among young children in day care centers.
What happens if CMV is left untreated?
If untreated, it can spread throughout the body, infecting organ after organ. It may cause respiratory problems, damage to the central nervous system, bleeding ulcers in the digestive system, and CMV retinitis, which can lead to blindness.
What is the treatment for CMV virus?
Ganciclovir (Cytovene) is the first antiviral medication approved for the treatment of CMV infection. Ganciclovir, given intravenously, is the drug of choice for the treatment of CMV infection. Side effects include fever, rash, diarrhea, anemia, and low white blood cell and platelet counts.
How long does CMV virus last?
Most healthy individuals who have a CMV infection will not have symptoms. However, when symptoms are present, they are often similar to those of glandular fever. Severity and duration can vary but, on average, will last for two to three weeks.
Is CMV highly contagious?
Is CMV Contagious? Yes. CMV can spread in a number of different ways. Anyone who has had a CMV infection, even without any symptoms, can spread the virus to others.
How do you know if CMV is active?
If there is a 4-fold increase in IgG between the first and second sample, then you have an active CMV infection (primary or reactivated). A positive CMV IgM and negative IgG means you may have very recently been infected.
Can I get CMV from my husband?
Although it’s common, CMV is hard to catch. Spread through bodily fluids like urine, saliva, tears, semen, breast milk, mucus, and blood, CMV isn’t airborne or considered to be highly contagious. “You don’ t get CMV from casual contact like riding the bus; it’s from exchanging body fluids at an intimate level,” Dr.
How is CMV prevented?
Can CMV be prevented?
- regularly and thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water, particularly when caring for children or handling anything with body fluids on it.
- regularly clean surfaces and objects that may have body fluids on them.
- wear gloves when changing nappies.
- avoid contact with children’s saliva.
What are the long-term effects of CMV?
Some babies with signs of congenital CMV infection at birth may have long-term health problems, such as: Hearing loss. Developmental and motor delay. Vision loss.
Can CMV be transmitted through kissing?
CMV can be spread through saliva, infected blood products and sexual contact with an infected person.
Is CMV a rare disease?
It has been shown that one in every 200 babies born have congenital CMV. Despite this, the awareness for congenital CMV is alarmingly low. Statistics show 91% of women are unaware of CMV and its effects.