Gavini Pediatric & ADHD Clinics

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CMV and EBV Virus

What is the CMV virus

Anyone can be infected by CMV Virus and most don’t know that they have it since it rarely causes symptoms. Those individuals who have weakened immune systems or are pregnant will have cause for concern. CMV remains dormant in healthy individuals and is spread by bodily fluids.

What is the EBV virus

Epstein-Barr Virus, which is a member of the herpesvirus family. It is considered to be one of the most common human viruses and occurs worldwide. Typically it occurs in early childhood and is linked in the cause of infectious mononucleosis.

Typical Symptoms of EBV are:

  • sore throat
  • fever
  • fatigue
  • swollen spleen in 50% of patients
EBV typically shows no symptoms and 95% of the human population is found to have it. EBV has been linked to infectious mononucleosis, certain cancers, and MS. EBV typically takes residence in the cells of the throat and mouth. It is easily transmitted through saliva.

Symptoms in Babies

  • Yellow Skin and Eyes (jaundice)
  • Enlarged Spleen
  • Seizures
  • Pneumonia
  • Purple Skin Splotches, Rash, or Both
  • Enlarged, Poorly Functioning Liver
  • Small Size at Birth or a Low Birth Weight

Symptoms in Individuals with Compromised Immunity

  • Pneumonia
  • Coma
  • Seizures
  • Diarrhea
  • Ulcers in the digestive tract that can possibly cause bleeding
  • Visual Impairment and blindness
  • Hepatitis
  • Inflammation of the brain (encephalitis)
  • Behavioral changes

Causes

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is related to the viruses that cause chickenpox, mononucleosis, and herpes simplex. The virus passes through bodily fluids and you can contract it in a number of different ways such as: through breast milk, touching eyes or the inside of your nose or mouth after you’ve come in contact with a person who has CMV, through sexual contact with an infected person, organ transplantation or blood transfusions, a child through the placenta of an infant from an infected mother during birth.

Complications

Lung, liver, nervous system, intestinal, and CMV mononucleosis.

Tests/Diagnosis/Treatment

If you’re pregnant, get screened for you and your baby as a number of complications can arise from your newborn having a CMV infection. The virus can be found by testing an individual’s blood, tissues, or bodily fluids.

There is no cure for CMV, and those who have an active infection will have a different treatment depending on the symptoms that they present. The most common type of treatment for CMV are antiviral drugs.

Prevention of CMV:

wash your hands often, be careful with disposable items, avoid contact with tears and saliva when you kiss a child, avoid sharing food or drinking out of the same glass as others, and practicing safe sex