Learn about Cytomegalovirus
While most children with cytomegalovirus (CMV) don't get sick, the disease can lead to birth defects or other serious problems―even death. If you're pregnant or planning a pregnancy, the best way to protect your unborn child from CMV is to protect yourself.
Pregnant or planning a pregnancy?
Here are a few simple ways you can reduce your chance of getting CMV and potentially passing it along to your unborn baby:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for 15–20 seconds, especially after changing diapers.
- Do not kiss young children (less than 6 years of age) on the mouth or cheek.
- Do not share food, drinks, or eating utensils with young children.
- If you work in a day care center, avoid close contact with children younger than
2 ½ years of age, especially if you've never been infected with CMV or don't know if you've been infected.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common virus related to the viruses that cause chickenpox and mononucleosis. CMV can infect almost anyone, and once infected, a person has the virus in their body for life. Since there are different strains of the virus, people can be infected more than once.
Most people with CMV never show symptoms, or they experience only mild illness for a short time after they're infected. However, CMV can cause serious health problems in some unborn babies and people with weak immune systems.
CMV and Pregnancy
The risk of getting CMV through casual contact is very small. The virus is generally passed from infected people to others through direct contact with body fluids, such as urine, saliva, breast milk, or blood.
If you become infected with CMV while you're pregnant, there's as much as a 1 in 3 chance you could pass the virus to your unborn baby. If you are infected with CMV before you become pregnant, that risk is reduced to about 1 in 100. If you're pregnant or planning a pregnancy and have concerns about CMV, talk with your healthcare provider.
Practicing good hygiene can reduce your chance of infection while pregnant. Remember to wash your hands with soap and water after changing diapers and coming into contact with children's body fluids. Avoid kissing young children on the face or lips. And don't share food, drinks, or eating utensils with young children.
Signs and Symptoms
While most children and adults infected with CMV don't show any symptoms, some develop a mild illness that can include fever, sore throat, fatigue, or swollen glands. Because these symptoms are like those of other illnesses, you might not realize you or your child has CMV.
About 1 in 150 children is born with CMV. When newborns have CMV, the condition is known as congenital CMV. Some babies with congenital CMV will show symptoms that can be temporary or permanent. Temporary symptoms can include the following:
- Small body size
- Problems with the liver, spleen, and/or lungs
- Jaundice (yellow skin and eyes)
- Purple-looking skin
- Seizures
Permanent problems from congenital CMV can include the following:
- Loss of hearing and/or vision
- Mental disability
- Small head
- Lack of coordination
- Seizures
In some cases, congenital CMV can even lead to death.
Treatment
A drug called ganciclovir is used to treat CMV primarily in adults who also have a weak immune system or a life-threatening illness. Ganciclovir may also prevent hearing loss in children with congenital CMV. However, the drug has been linked to serious side effects in children. If your child has congenital CMV, talk with your healthcare provider about the best course of action.
More Information
- Details on CMV
- Information on handwashing and hygiene
- Send an eCard to a pregnant friend or family member:
- Download a podcast:
- Staying Healthy When a Baby's on the Way (
0:59 minutes) - Staying Healthy When a Baby's on the Way (6:05 minutes)
- Put Your Hands Together (3:48 minutes)
- Staying Healthy When a Baby's on the Way (
