What are the potential consequences if a woman contracts cytomegalovirus during pregnancy?

If you get infected with CMV during pregnancy, it may cause pregnancy loss or serious health problems in your baby, including preterm birth or low birthweight, or hearing loss at birth or later in life. CMV is the leading cause of hearing loss in this country, causing 1 in 3 cases of hearing loss.

Can you get disability for CMV?

CMV, Disabilities, & Hearing Loss CMV is a serious infection. Of newborns who are born with cCMV, up to one in five will have permanent disabilities. Hearing loss is the most common permanent disability for CMV.

What if CMV IgG is positive in pregnancy?

Testing for CMV infection is a simple blood test, called a CMV IgG antibody. It will determine if a pregnant woman has had CMV. A positive result indicates a current or past CMV infection. A second blood test, called CMV IgM antibody will help determine if the CMV infection is current or past.

Should I be tested for CMV when pregnant?

In the USA, all women are screened via ultrasound at around 20 weeks gestation. When CMV-associated fetal abnormalities are detected and an intrauterine CMV infection confirmed by amniocentesis, data from the new National CMV Registry for Pregnant Women (CMVregistry.org) indicate off-label HIG is often used.

What is the life expectancy of a baby with CMV?

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.

How long does CMV IgG stay positive?

CMV IgM antibody in some women may remain positive for over 4 months (sometimes up to a year or more) or may be a false positive result. Therefore, a third CMV antibody test may be performed, called CMV IgG avidity index.

How do you get CMV while pregnant?

Some women pick up CMV while pregnant. This happens through handling infected children’s toys, dirty tissues or soiled nappies. It is also possible to get CMV from having sex, a blood transfusion or an organ transplant. Unborn babies can get CMV from their mothers while in the womb.

Is CMV IgG 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.

Can CMV be detected on ultrasound?

Ultrasound can show some of the issues caused by congenital CMV, such as slow growth, small head size, large placenta, and changes in brain structure. However, many babies with congenital CMV will not show any signs of infection on ultrasound.

Does 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 does a pregnant woman get CMV?

Is CMV routinely tested for in pregnancy?

You are not likely to be tested for CMV It is not recommended that doctors routinely test pregnant women for CMV infection. This is because laboratory tests cannot predict which developing babies will become infected with CMV or have long-term health problems.

Can pregnant nurses take care of CMV positive patients?

We do not recommend routinely reassigning pregnant healthcare workers from caring for patients with particular infections that have the potential for harming the fetus including CMV, HIV, hepatitis B and C, and varicella. If healthcare workers need more information, contact Infection Control or their OB provider.

Can CMV cause ADHD?

This study suggests that CMV infection in infancy may increase the risk of subsequent epilepsy and ASD, especially in infants younger than 2 years, but is not associated with ADHD.

How is cytomegalovirus (CMV) treated in pregnancy?

Treatment for CMV in pregnancy. Wash hands with soap and water, especially after feeding, changing nappies or coming into contact with any bodily fluids Wash any items that have come into contact with bodily fluids with soap and water.

Is universal serologic screening for cytomegalovirus (CMV) during pregnancy possible?

The French have used serologic screening to evaluate the role of maternal education about CMV and the role of hygienic intervention to prevent maternal acquisition of CMV during pregnancy [12]. This paper will highlight recent developments that make either universal or limited serologic screening for CMV during pregnancy potentially attractive.

How many pregnancies are at risk for congenital cytomegalovirus (CCV) infection?

Donner C, Liesnard C, Content J, Busine A, Aderca J, Rodesch F. Prenatal diagnosis of 52 pregnancies at risk for congenital cytomegalovirus infection. Obstetrics and Gynecology. 1993;82(4):481–486.

What are the inclusion criteria for screening for cytomegalovirus infection?

The main inclusion criteria were pregnant patients and infants, as the target population, and CMV infection, as the diagnosis of interest. Recommendations are graded according to the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force grade of recommendations and level of certainty.