How many people get cmv

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I want to get healthier. Close Health Alerts from Harvard Medical School Get helpful tips and guidance for everything from fighting inflammation to finding the best diets for weight loss If you're pregnant or if your immune system is weakened, CMV is cause for concern.

Women who develop an active CMV infection during pregnancy can pass the virus to their babies, who might then experience symptoms. For people who have weakened immune systems, especially people who have had an organ, stem cell or bone marrow transplant, CMV infection can be fatal. CMV spreads from person to person through body fluids, such as blood, saliva, urine, semen and breast milk.

There is no cure, but there are medications that can help treat the symptoms. Most healthy people who are infected with CMV may experience no symptoms. Some experience minor symptoms. People who are more likely to experience signs and symptoms of CMV include:. Most babies who have congenital CMV appear healthy at birth. A few babies who have congenital CMV who appear healthy at birth develop signs over time — sometimes not for months or years after birth. The most common of these late-occurring signs are hearing loss and developmental delay.

A small number of babies may also develop vision problems. The following signs and symptoms are more common in babies who have congenital CMV and who are sick at birth:. Most people who are infected with CMV who are otherwise healthy experience few if any symptoms. When first infected, some adults may have symptoms similar to infectious mononucleosis, including:. If you have CMV but are otherwise healthy, and you're experiencing any mild, generalized illness, you could be in a reactivation period.

Self-care, such as getting plenty of rest, should be enough for your body to control the infection. If you know you were infected with CMV during your pregnancy, tell your baby's doctor. The doctor will likely assess your baby for hearing or vision problems. CMV is related to the viruses that cause chickenpox, herpes simplex and mononucleosis.

CMV may cycle through periods when it lies dormant and then reactivates. If you're healthy, CMV mainly stays dormant. Minus Related Pages. Signs and Symptoms. In some cases, infection in healthy people can cause mild illness that may include: Fever Sore throat Fatigue Swollen glands Occasionally, CMV can cause mononucleosis or hepatitis liver problem. CMV is spread from an infected person in the following ways: From direct contact with saliva or urine, especially from babies and young children Through sexual contact From breast milk to nursing infants Through transplanted organs and blood transfusions.

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