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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staffCytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common and widespread virus that can infect almost anyone. Most people with CMV don't even know they have it, because it rarely causes symptoms. The greatest concern is if you're pregnant or have a weak immune system.
Once you're infected with CMV, the virus is in your body for life. CMV spreads through body fluids, such as blood, saliva, urine, semen and breast milk. People with weak immune systems have a greater risk of becoming ill from CMV. If you're pregnant and have never been exposed to the virus but develop an active infection, the virus can cause disabilities in your unborn baby.
There's no cure for CMV, but drugs can help newborns and people with weak immune systems.
- Learn about cytomegalovirus. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/Features/Cytomegalovirus. Accessed March 22, 2009.
- Frequently asked questions about CMV. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/cmv/faqs.htm. Accessed March 22, 2009.
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV) diagnosis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/cmv/diagnosis.htm. Accessed March 22, 2009.
- Demmler GJ, et al. Cytomegalovirus infection and disease in newborns, infants, children and adolescents. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 23, 2009.
- Tremblay C, et al. Cytomegalovirus infection in pregnancy. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 23, 2009.
- Pass RF, et al. Vaccine prevention of maternal cytomegalovirus infection. New England Journal of Medicine. 2009;360:1191.
- Neurological consequences of cytomegalovirus infection information page. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/cytomegalic/cytomegalic.htm. Accessed March 23, 2009.
