Treatment of CMV Infection or Cytomegalovirus Infection & its Prevention, Complications

Although there is no cure for CMV infection or cytomegalovirus infection, newborns and persons with weak immune systems can be treated using drugs. This article explains about the treatment for CMV infection or cytomegalovirus infection, prevention, complications and risk factors.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) has no cure and treatment for this virus if detected is not recommended or required to children and adults who are healthy.

However, newborns and persons with weak immune systems should have treatment when experiencing CMV infection or cytomegalovirus infection symptoms, such as pneumonia. Treatment type is determined by symptoms and how severe they are.

Antiviral drugs are the most common form of any treatment needed. Although the antiviral drugs cannot cure the cytomegalovirus (CMV), they slow the reproduction of the virus. However, researchers are studying new medicines and vaccines to treat and prevent CMV infection or cytomegalovirus infection.

The best prevention method for CMV infection or cytomegalovirus infection is careful hygiene. Those working in healthcare centers have the greatest exposure, but the good precautions used in healthcare centers lower the risks of contracting the disease.

Below are some precautions you should take to prevent CMV infection or cytomegalovirus infection:

• Often washing of hands with soap will help in preventing CMV infection or cytomegalovirus infection. Make sure you wash your hands for 15 to 20 seconds after contacting young children, diapers, oral secretions and drool. It is important if children are attending day care.
• When kissing a child, avoid tears and saliva. Rather than kissing a child’s lips, kiss his/her forehead. It is very important for pregnant women with CMV infection or cytomegalovirus infection.
• Avoid food sharing and drinking from the same glass; CMV infection or cytomegalovirus infection can be easily transmitted by sharing glasses and other kitchen utensils.
• Handle disposal items with care; you should take care not to touch disposal items with your hands. Such include tissues, diapers and any item that has been contaminated with body fluids. Also, wash your hands thoroughly before touching any part of the body.
• Cleaning toys and countertops; any surface that comes gets in touch with child’s urine or saliva should be cleaned.
• Practice safe sex; it is important to wear condom when having sex to prevent the spread of CMV infection or cytomegalovirus infection from spreading via semen and vaginal fluids.

Childbearing age women experimental vaccines are being tested. The vaccines might prevent infection between mothers and infants. Antiviral medicines are beneficial in preventing CMV infection or cytomegalovirus infection to individuals with weak immune.

The widespread and usual CMV can infect anyone. However, healthy children and adults who get infected by the virus develop few if any symptoms. Therefore, cytomegalovirus (CMV) usually goes undiagnosed.

In most cases, CMV virus hardly causes healthy individuals to get extremely sick. Below are some complications caused by CMV infection or cytomegalovirus infection:

• CMV mononucleosis is a complication of CMV infection or cytomegalovirus infection. CMV mononucleosis is similar to infectious mononucleosis, but classic mononucleosis is caused by Epstein – Barr virus (EBV). Some signs and symptoms which similar to mononucleosis include sore throat, nausea, fatigue and swollen tonsils and glands. If you have the signs, the doctor tests for the antibody made by your body to fight EBV, and if not present, chances of the symptoms occurring might result from EBV.
• CMV infection or cytomegalovirus infection can cause intestinal complications. If CMV infection or cytomegalovirus infects your intestines, you will experience diarrhea, fever, blood in stool, inflammation of the colon and abdominal pain.
• Liver complications are possible with CMV infection or cytomegalovirus infection; abnormal functioning of the liver and fever which is unexplained may be caused by CMV.
  Nervous system complications are also a possibility of CMV infection or cytomegalovirus infection. Among the many nervous complications which have been reported as a result of CMV infection in the nervous system is encephalitis, which is inflammation of the brain.
• Lung complication; pneumonitis, which is inflammation of the lung tissue may be caused by CMV infection or cytomegalovirus infection.

Newborns with CMV infection or cytomegalovirus infection are likely to undergo;

• Hearing loss.
• Small head.
• Death.
• Seizures.
• Lack of coordination.
• Mental disability.
• Eye abnormalities. These include the retina getting scars, loss of the central vision, uveitis- the eye gets swollen and irritated , and retinitis where the light sensing layer of the eye gets swollen when the baby has CMV infection or cytomegalovirus infection.

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Also Read:

• What is CMV Infection or Cytomegalovirus Infection, Know its Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis