Pregnancy
In the United
States, about half
of expectant mothers
have never been
infected with CMV.
About 1% to 4% of
uninfected mothers
have primary (or
first) CMV infection
during their
pregnancy. Most
women have no
symptoms, although
some have a disease
that is like
mononucleosis.
About one third of
women who become
infected with CMV
for the first time
during pregnancy
pass the virus to
their unborn babies.
Women who had CMV
before getting
pregnant can also
pass the virus to
their unborn babies,
but this is less
common.
Each year in
the United States,
about
1 in 750
children are
born
with or
develop
disabilities
as a result of CMV infection. |
Most babies with
congenital (meaning from
birth) CMV never have
health problems. But, in
some babies, congenital
CMV causes health
problems when
the baby is born or
later in the baby’s
life. These health
problems may include
Sometimes health
problems such as
hearing or vision
loss do not occur
until months or
years after birth.
With proper care, most
infants with CMV disease
survive. Of those with
symptoms at birth, 80%
to 90% will have
problems within the
first few years of life.
These problems may
include hearing loss,
vision loss, and various degrees of
mental retardation. Of
those infants with no symptoms
at birth, 5% to 10% will
later develop various
degrees of hearing and
mental or coordination
problems.
Health problems
occur most often
among babies born to
women who are having
their first CMV
infection during
pregnancy.
|
Pregnant women can be
infected with CMV
through sexual contact,
blood transfusions, and
non-sexual, close
contact with infected
persons, especially
young children. Children
can be infected with CMV
before birth, during
delivery, and through
breast feeding, blood
transfusions, or contact
with other children who
have CMV. Infants and
children who acquire CMV
after birth have few, if
any, symptoms or
problems.
No
actions can eliminate
all risks of becoming
infected with CMV, but there are
measures that can be
taken to reduce the
spread of CMV:
-
Practice
good personal hygiene,
especially hand washing
with soap and water
after contact with
diapers or saliva
(particularly with a
child who is in day
care). Wash well for 15
to 20 seconds.
-
Do
not kiss children
under the age of 6
on the mouth or cheek.
Instead, kiss them on
the head or give them a hug.
-
Do
not share food, drinks,
or utensils (spoons or
forks) with young
children.
-
If
you are pregnant and
work in a day care
center, reduce your risk
of getting CMV by
working with children
who are older than 2 ½
years of age, especially
if you have never been
infected with CMV or are
unsure if you have been
infected.
|