What does CMV do to a baby?
Emma Newman
Updated on March 01, 2026
Most babies born with CMV don't have health problems caused by the virus. But CMV can cause problems for some babies, including microcephaly. This is a birth defect in which a baby's head is smaller than expected, compared to babies of the same sex and age. You can pass CMV to your baby at any time during pregnancy.
Keeping this in consideration, can CMV kill a baby?
Even though most babies aren't harmed by CMV, all babies born with the virus need regular hearing and vision tests. Babies born with CMV may be treated with antiviral medicines. These medicines kill infections caused by viruses. This treatment usually happens in a hospital.
Beside above, how common is CMV in newborns? In the United States, about 1% of infants are infected with CMV before birth. This happens because the mother had a first-time CMV infection or a reactivated infection during her pregnancy. An infected mother can pass the virus to her child before, during, or after birth.
Consequently, can CMV cause birth defects?
Most babies born with CMV don't have health problems caused by the virus. But CMV can cause problems for some babies, including microcephaly. This is a birth defect in which a baby's head is smaller than expected, compared to babies of the same sex and age. You can pass CMV to your baby at any time during pregnancy.
How do you know if your baby has CMV?
Tests on a baby's saliva, urine, or blood done within two to three weeks after birth can confirm if the baby has congenital CMV. Babies who show signs of congenital CMV at birth may be treated with medicines called antivirals.
Related Question Answers
Can CMV cause Down syndrome?
More children will have disabilities due to congenital CMV than other well-known conditions including Down Syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Pediatric HIV/AIDS, Spina Bifida, Toxoplasmosis, and Zika.Is CMV sexually transmitted disease?
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.How many babies are born with CMV?
About one out of every 200 infants is born with congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. Around one in five babies born with congenital CMV infection will have long-term health problems.How do you kill CMV?
If you have an active CMV infection that is causing symptoms, you will need treatment. Antiviral medicines like ganciclovir or valganciclovir can help. These medicines can help kill the virus.Can CMV be transmitted through breast milk?
CMV can be transmitted to infants through contact with the mother's genital secretions during delivery or through breast milk. Healthy infants and children who acquire CMV after birth generally have few, if any, symptoms or complications from the infection.How does a child get CMV?
Infants can contract CMV infections from their infected mothers, sometimes before birth when the virus is passed to the fetus through the placenta, or during delivery if the mother's genital tract is infected. It can also be transmitted through CMV-infected breast milk.What causes CMV in pregnancy?
CMV is a common viral infection, especially among young children. Congenital CMV occurs when the infection is passed across the placenta from a pregnant woman to her developing baby. Some babies with congenital CMV infection show signs of disability at birth, while others are born healthy.Can CMV cause cerebral palsy?
Whilst most babies born with CMV will not have CMV disease, CMV can cause injury to the baby's developing brain resulting in long term disabilities including deafness, epilepsy, intellectual impairment, cerebral palsy and in rare cases death.What happens if you are CMV positive?
Although this person will test positive for CMV antibodies, he or she is healthy, has no evidence of disease and will not ordinarily transmit the virus to another person. However, if there is a suppression of the immune system, the virus may reactivate, shed viral particles and cause disease.Can CMV cause autism?
About 5 to 10 percent of babies with congenital CMV will have signs of the infection at birth. Of these, over 90 percent will have serious complications including hearing loss, visual impairment, mental retardation, autism, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, epilepsy or sometimes death.How long does cytomegalovirus last?
Signs and symptoms. 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 virus curable?
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.Who should be most concerned about exposure to CMV?
In both settings, good hygiene and careful hand washing are the most important control measures. Pregnant women working in child care facilities should minimize direct exposure to saliva and avoid kissing babies or young children on the mouth. Hugging is fine and is not a risk factor.How is CMV virus treated?
Treatment. Mild cytomegalovirus infection is usually not treated. It subsides on its own. When the infection threatens life or eyesight, an antiviral drug (valganciclovir, ganciclovir, cidofovir, foscarnet, or a combination) may be given.How common is CMV virus?
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a virus related to the herpes virus. It is so common that almost all adults in developing countries and 50% to 85% of adults in the United States have been infected. Usually CMV is a mild disease that does not cause any serious problems in healthy children and adults.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.Are newborns tested for CMV?
Congenital CMV infection can be diagnosed by testing a newborn baby's saliva, urine (preferred specimens), or blood. These specimens must be collected for testing within two to three weeks after the baby is born in order to confirm a diagnosis of congenital CMV infection.How do you know if CMV is active?
Most people with acquired CMV have no noticeable symptoms, but if symptoms do occur, they may include:- fever.
- night sweats.
- tiredness and uneasiness.
- sore throat.
- swollen glands.
- joint and muscle pain.
- low appetite and weight loss.
Does congenital CMV go away?
At birth, 90% of babies born with congenital CMV will present as asymptomatic, showing no obvious and visible symptoms of the virus. These children are expected to live healthy lives, typically following standard growth and development patterns.What is a normal CMV Level?
0.8 AI or less: Negative - No significant level of detectable CMV IgG antibody. 0.9-1.0 AI: Equivocal - Repeat testing in 10-14 days may be helpful. 1.1 AI or greater: Positive - IgG antibody to CMV detected, which may indicate a current or past CMV infection.How does CMV reactivate?
CMV is dispersed and becomes dormant in multiple end organs, a state also referred to as "latency," and can later be reactivated by a number of different stimuli, including immunosuppression and inflammation (reviewed in [1]).How is CMV prevented?
How can I prevent contracting CMV?- Try not to kiss babies or small children on the lips.
- Wash your hands after touching a child's urine or saliva, or any other body fluid.
- Try not to share food, cups, eating utensils, or a toothbrush.
- Don't clean a baby's pacifier with your own mouth.
