CMV
Cytomegalovirus, is in fact more common than Down’s syndrome, toxoplasmosis, spina bifida and cystic fibrosis - Paul Griffiths
image by: National CMV Foundation
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How cytomegalovirus evades the immune system
The human immune system is a large and complex beast, but in general it has two roles. Firstly, to prevent an infection from causing any harm and secondly to protect the body against a repeat attack. For many diseases protection against reinfection happens very efficiently, and this is the principle on which vaccines are based. By exposing your body to a non-harmful sample of the disease your immune system can built up resistance.
For cytomegalovirus however the immune system seems mysteriously unable to protect against reinfection, which is a major problem for the design and development of working vaccines.
Cytomegalovirus (hereafter referred to as CMV which is easier to spell)…
Resources
Don’t kiss your kids? Questioning the recent advice about CMV in pregnancy
Though previously thought to be rare, researchers now think congenital CMV is under-recognised. They estimate that one or two in every 1,000 infants may develop symptoms from being born with CMV – not rare, but uncommon. The virus is spread through fluids such as saliva, snot and urine. Child-rearing is messy; if toddlers catch CMV, it’s easy for them to pass it on to non-immune parents.
CMV. The Most Common Viral Infection Affecting Newborns That You’ve Never Heard About
C-M-V. Three letters that keep me up at night and shake me to the core. Three letters that have managed to routinely shatter my expectations, body slam my optimism, expose my vulnerability, alter my perspective and even now, force me to recalibrate daily. My daughter, Evelyn Grace, was born on March 12, 2013 at 36 weeks with congenital cytomegalovirus. Or CMV.
My Daughter’s Silent Virus: Congenital CMV
I already knew the results of the routine screening every pregnant woman undergoes; I had tested negative for hepatitis B, hepatitis C, syphilis, H.I.V., rubella, chlamydia, and genetic diseases like Down syndrome and cystic fibrosis. Even though the likelihood of having a baby with congenital CMV is higher than for all of the above conditions put together, I was never tested for it during either of my pregnancies.
CMV Is a Greater Threat to Infants Than Zika, but Far Less Often Discussed
Laura Sweet had no idea that she had contracted a virus that would leave her daughter, Jane, deaf by her first birthday. During her second pregnancy, doctors had warned her against alcohol and changing kitty litter. They had said to avoid sushi and cold cuts. But nobody — not her obstetrician, nor her midwife — mentioned cytomegalovirus.
Cytomegalovirus, Common Virus Known As CMV, Linked With Alzheimer's Disease
While most people are carriers of the CMV virus, generally only those with weakened immune systems have symptomatic, active CMV infections. The virus may infect the brain and spinal cord, and has been shown to increase inflammation. This inflammation, which can occur in the brain, is thought to contribute to Alzheimer's, and perhaps other diseases that result in the degeneration of nerve cells.
Cytomegalovirus—a ‘stealth’ pathogen—gains attention in the drug development realm
It’s also the most common viral infection in newborns and 1 out of every 750 infants born with CMV in the US will suffer permanent harm—hearing loss, brain damage, or even death—from this virus.
Explainer: what’s cytomegalovirus and why do pregnant women need to know about it?
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a virus transmitted from person to person via body fluids like urine or saliva. For people with a healthy immune system, CMV is likely to cause no more than a temporary fever or headache. But when a pregnant woman is infected, the results can be far more serious.
For Gideon, Infection With a Common Virus Caused Rare Birth Defects
Like cold and flu viruses, CMV is transmitted from person to person. It travels in bodily fluids like blood, urine and saliva. It is extremely common, according to Dr. Joseph Bocchini, a pediatric infectious disease specialist with Louisiana State University. "Cytomegalovirus is everywhere," he says. It is hard to avoid.
No, CMV Is Not the New Zika
CMV is part of a posse of contagions called the TORCH infections; TORCH is an acronym for toxoplasmosis, “other” (including syphilis), rubella, CMV, and herpes.
Silent Virus Poses A Rare, Dangerous Risk For Infants
It's a common, usually harmless virus. But in a rare, unlucky set of circumstances, it can be devastating for infants whose mothers become infected during pregnancy.
The Stealth Virus
Professor Griffiths uses this experience and stories of real patients to demonstrate how cytomegalovirus has avoided detection and treatment for so long. He introduces you to CMV, an intelligent virus which evolved millions of years ago intending to infect everyone on the planet during childhood, spreading silently throughout the world whilst remaining unrecognised. Professor Griffiths explains how modern living has jolted this stealth virus out of its complacency, rapidly altering the conditions it needs to survive.
The “Silent” Global Burden of Congenital Cytomegalovirus
Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a leading cause of congenital infections worldwide. In the developed world, following the virtual elimination of circulating rubella, it is the commonest nongenetic cause of childhood hearing loss and an important cause of neurodevelopmental delay.
How cytomegalovirus evades the immune system
Cytomegalovirus (hereafter referred to as CMV which is easier to spell) is a type of herpes-virus that are often not deadly for healthy patients, but can be dangerous for people with a compromised immune system. It can cause massive problems in pregnancy and is one of the major causes of congenital diseases including childhood deafness and neurological disorders.
CMV Action
We offer advice and support to anyone affected by Congenital CMV. We can put families in touch with each other if they have similar issues or are in the same locality. We can advocate for families affected by cCMV and support them in ensuring they receive.
CMVgirl
The story of baby girl "Gili" and her life with Congenital Cytomegalovirus.
How Life Happens
A blog about life, love and raising two daughters - one with a profound hearing loss and cerebral palsy from a CMV exposure in utero.
National CMV Foundation
At the National CMV Foundation, we work to inform and educate others on specific prevention measures to protect against the risk of CMV infection. Congenital CMV is the most common viral infection that infants are born with in the United States, occurring in about 1 in 200 births. Because CMV is a silent disease – meaning most people who are infected have no signs of symptoms (asymptomatic) – the mother is likely unaware she has CMV during her pregnancy.
CDC
You may be able to lessen your risk of getting CMV by reducing contact with saliva and urine from babies and young children. The saliva and urine of children with CMV have high amounts of the virus. You can avoid getting a child’s saliva in your mouth by, for example, not sharing food, utensils, or cups with a child. Also, you should wash your hands after changing diapers. These cannot eliminate your risk of getting CMV, but may lessen the chances of getting it.
MayoClinic
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common virus that can infect almost anyone. Most people don't know they have CMV because it rarely causes symptoms. However, if you're pregnant or have a weakened immune system, CMV is cause for concern.
MedicineNet
Typically after years of infection with the virus, symptoms begin to appear that reflect a decreasing immune function due to a decline in the number of CD4 T cells. Some of the opportunistic infections that can occur are cytomegalovirus infection, cryptococcal meningitis, Cryptosporidium diarrhea, Pneumocystic jiroveci pneumonia (previously called Pneumocystic carinii pneumonia or PCP), Toxoplasma encephalitis, tuberculosis, and herpesvirus infections.
MedlinePlus
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a virus found around the world. It is related to the viruses that cause chickenpox and infectious mononucleosis (mono). Between 50 percent and 80 percent of adults in the United States have had a CMV infection by age 40. Once CMV is in a person's body, it stays there for life. CMV is spread through close contact with body fluids. Most people with CMV don't get sick and don't know that they've been infected. But infection with the virus can be serious in babies and people with weak immune systems. If a woman gets CMV when she is pregnant, she can pass it on to her baby. Usually the babies do not have health problems. But some babies can develop lifelong disabilities.
NHS
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. CMV can also be passed on through kissing, having sex, or receiving an infected organ during an organ transplant.
Patient
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a member of the herpesvirus family. Infection is worldwide and usually asymptomatic. CMV may cause a mononucleosis infection in healthy individuals but can cause severe illness in congenital infection and in an immunocompromised host. The most common disease manifestation is gastrointestinal disease. CMV pneumonia is the most serious complication, but has become less common with prevention strategies for at-risk patients. Rare manifestations include retinitis and encephalitis. CMV also has an immunosuppressive effect, which can lead to an increased susceptibility to invasive bacterial and fungal disease as well as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD).
Simple Test For Babies Could Help Spot A Virus That Damages Hearing
Babies who are born infected with cytomegalovirus, a common virus, can suffer permanent hearing loss, but newborns aren't routinely tested to see if they have it. That could change if a pediatrician at the University of Alabama in Birmingham has his way. He's the leader on a new study that found that a simple saliva test can identify babies at risk. But testing all babies for cytomegalovirus is probably not going to happen anytime soon.
StatPearls
CMV infects between 60% to 70% of adults in industrialized countries and close to 100% in emerging countries. Of all herpes viruses, CMV harbors the largest number of genes dedicated to evading innate and adaptive immunity in the host. CMV represents a lifelong burden of antigenic T-cell surveillance and immune dysfunction. Congenital CMV is a leading infectious cause of deafness, learning disabilities, and intellectual disability.
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