Cytomegalovirus (CMV) - Sleeping With The Enemy Within
Elizabeth Campbell
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a virus, which can be transmitted to the developing fetus before birth. The cytomegalovirus infection usually is not harmful and it rarely triggers diseases. For most of the healthy persons, which contract this virus after birth, there are several symptoms and there are not long term medical consequences. Once a person is infected, the virus is still active, but it is latent during that person's life.
There are two different types of infections: -primary cytomegalovirus -recurring cytomegalovirus
A primary infection can cause more pregnancy problems than recurring one. Anyway, if the immune system of a person is weak, it can become active and it can cause the cytomegalovirus disease. For most of the persons, suffering from cytomegalovirus there will not be real problems.
Infected persons, both children and adults do not develop any symptoms. If ever, some symptoms such as listed below, may appear between 3 to 12 weeks after exposure to the virus: - inflammation of the glands - fever - a general feeling of weakness
To continue with, cytomegalovirus belongs to the herpes virus group and, as we have already said, it can stick to the body, under latent condition, for a long time. The infection can be carried by body fluids like urine, blood, saliva, tears and breast milk. Cytomegalovirus can exist in these liquids without the possibility to detect its signs and symptoms.
Concerning the frequency of cytomegalovirus, it can emerge in the case of 50 - 85% of the adults over the age of 40 and it is most popular in developed countries. Besides, the risk is increased in the case of the fetus in the uterus, in the case of people who work with children and in the case of people affected by HIV.
The cytomegalovirus is transferred from person to person and cannot stay on water, food, or animals. It does not spread rapidly but it has been observed to go around more quickly in centres for children. Close contact with an infected person can also get you infected through the urine, saliva, breast milk, or other body fluids.
As previously discussed, cases of cytomegalovirus infection are hardly ever diagnosed because of lack of observable symptoms. To properly diagnose the disease, one has to undergo urine analyses and blood tests plus analysis of culture samples taken from the throat or from, the tissue. Laboratory tests to study the virus are very expensive and only a number of developed countries can afford to have them.
For infected pregnant women there are two ways to examine the fetus to find out if the baby is infected too. Samples of blood, urine, and saliva can be taken for analysis after the baby is born. The fetus may develop low level of amniotic liquid, poor intraurine development and retarded growth of brain tissue.
Cytomegalovirus infection even during pregnancy can be treated by medication. However medication should only be undertaken if infection has spread severely.
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