HEALTHIER YOU: Raising awareness of CMV
June 7, 2025 by agutting@reviewjournal.com
Filed under Health
BY DR. MARGUERITE BRATHWAITE OB-GYN
You might be asking: What is Cytomegalovirus (CMV)? The short answer is that it’s a common virus found in people of all ages.
A healthy person’s immune system usually keeps the virus from causing illness, but some babies born with CMV can have health problems at birth or that develop later in life. In the United States, nearly 1 in 3 children is already infected with CMV by the age of 5. Over half of adults have been infected with CMV by age 40. Once CMV is in a person’s body, it stays there for life and can reactivate. A person can also be re-infected with a different strain of the virus.
Babies born with CMV can have brain, liver, spleen, lung and growth problems. The most common long-term health problem in babies born with CMV infection is hearing loss. This may be detected soon after birth or may develop later in childhood. Anyone can get CMV. Some people are at higher risk for complications from CMV, such as those who are pregnant or have weakened immune systems.
Healthcare providers can order tests to identify CMV infection in adults who have symptoms. However, blood is not the best fluid to test newborns with suspected CMV infection.
Saliva or urine tests are preferred for newborns. These tests must be done within 2 to 3 weeks of birth to confirm if the baby has congenital CMV.
Healthy people who are infected with CMV usually do not require medical treatment. However, there are medications, antivirals, that are available to treat CMV when needed.
People with CMV can pass the virus through bodily fluids such as saliva, urine, blood, tears, semen, and breast milk.
An infected person can spread CMV from direct contact with saliva or urine, especially from babies and young children. It can also be transmitted through sexual contact and from breast milk to nursing infants. Transplanted organs and blood transfusions can also pass the CMV infection.
All women should have regular healthcare checkups, and it is especially important during pregnancy. Make your appointment today by calling Innovative Women’s Care at (702) 413-7740 or visit us at 851 S. Rampart Blvd., Suite 165 in Las Vegas.
