Pregnancy and cytomegalovirus

Pregnancy and cytomegalovirus

Symptoms

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common virus, which under normal conditions does not cause a problem in adults and children. Most of the time, the carriers are asymptomatic while in case of infection, the symptoms resemble those of influenza.

The natural carriers of the virus are young children. About 1/3 of children carry the virus in their excretions (saliva, tears, urine).

If the mother has been in contact with the virus in the past (outside of pregnancy), then she has developed antibodies against cytomegalovirus (which is easily seen by blood tests, detection of IGG-IGM antibodies) and so the fetus is protected from a new infection.
However, in case of primary infection, i.e. the first time the mother is infected during pregnancy, then the mother does not have time to produce antibodies effectively and a small percentage of the virus may pass to the fetus with consequences for it (brain abnormalities, deafness, mental retardation).

Cytomegalovirus Treatment

Unfortunately, the treatments that exist in case of infection are controversial (antiviral drugs, immunoglobulins) and rather ineffective, so the greatest weight must be given to prevention, which is of course the rules of hygiene.
Prenatal testing is possible and is individualized on a case-by-case basis. In case of primary infection of the mother in early pregnancy, an amniocentesis may be performed after 20 weeks of pregnancy to test the amniotic fluid for whether the virus has passed to the baby.
Then with ultrasound monitoring, we check for possible damage that can appear in various organs of the baby.

Cytomegalovirus – Transmission

The best treatment is prevention!
More specifically, the expectant mother who does not have antibodies should pay attention to the following:

• Wash her hands thoroughly after changing a baby’s diapers
• Do not kiss little children on the mouth
• Not to drink from the same glass or eat from the same plate or use the same cutlery as little children
• Never try the bottle herself
• Do not use the same towel or the same toothbrush as the child

In general, it should not come into contact with a child’s secretions (saliva, tears, urine).

The same rules of hygiene should be followed by the husband.