Among people with weakened immune systems, cytomegalovirus infection is a life threatening disease. This is why prophylaxis and treatment of this infection are required. Those who have multiple sex partners are also at risk. Besides the risk of acquiring the disease, CMV infection can cause severe neurologic and gastrointestinal abnormalities, leading to disability. In some cases, CMV infection can result in permanent loss of vision.
The virus is transmitted through contact with an infected person, or by infected body fluids. This is why it is essential to keep your hands clean, or to use hand sanitizer. It is also important to wash your hands after handling contaminated objects. It is also important to avoid sharing food, drink, or other items that are contaminated with body fluids. It is also important to avoid contact with children, as their skin may be more vulnerable to a CMV infection.
It is possible for healthy people to be infected with cytomegalovirus, although a large number of people have no symptoms after exposure. However, if an individual develops symptoms after a CMV infection, it is important to seek medical advice. CMV can have a variety of symptoms, including encephalitis, uveitis, hepatitis, and gastrointestinal lesions. The virus can also cause a type of opportunistic infection in those with AIDS called cytomegalovirus retinalitis. In these cases, antiviral drugs are used to weaken symptoms and prevent further progression of the disease.
CMV is an infection of the Herpesviridae family, which includes the herpes simplex virus and varicella-zoster virus. It can be transmitted from a pregnant woman to her fetus, or through the placenta of an infant during labor. This is why it is important for pregnant women to kiss their infants’ foreheads as well as to avoid drinking from the same glass. Other signs and symptoms that are associated with a CMV infection include abdominal pain, gastrointestinal tract lesions, diarrhea, and pneumonia.
Cytomegalovirus infection symptoms may also be confused with those of many other illnesses, including pharyngitis, infectious mononucleosis, hepatitis, and tuberculosis. These illnesses are often accompanied by swelling and redness of the lymph nodes. This is why a biopsy is recommended to determine whether the disease is caused by CMV.
CMV infection symptoms are also common in patients with advanced HIV disease. Some of these symptoms include encephalitis, gastrointestinal tract and peripheral nerve damage, and pharyngitis. Some patients may develop distal symmetric polyneuropathy, a disease characterized by numbness, tingling, or weakness in the distal symmetric limbs. This type of polyneuropathy typically presents during advanced immunosuppression. It is important to detect CMV infection in patients with advanced HIV disease, as this can prevent serious complications.
Infection with CMV is also a common disease in people with weakened immune systems, including those who receive bone marrow transplants. The virus can reactivate in these people and cause a life-threatening disease. This can also occur in those who have received a blood transfusion.
When a CMV infection is detected in an infant, it is important to treat the child. Treatments for this disease include antibiotics and antiviral drugs, which can stop the progression of the disease.
