Cytomegalovirus (the large cell virus) is a common virus and about fifty per cent of the population of Britain have been infected with it at some time. Frequently the infection passes unnoticed or there may be mild flu-like symptoms. The virus belongs to the herpes family, which includes the chicken-pox, cold sore and glandular fever viruses. Once infection has taken place, the virus remains dormant within the body, usually with no ill effects. However, recurrences of the virus in body fluids may occur at intervals.

In the UK about forty per cent of women are susceptible to CMV at the time of pregnancy. The main risk is when women catch the viral infection for the first time in pregnancy. Women are usually only mildly unwell with a sore throat and flu-like illness. The chance of the baby becoming infected is about forty per cent. Over ninety per cent of infected babies have no signs of anything wrong at birth.

Some of these infants may go on to develop sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) over the first five years of life. CMV is probably one of the main causes of isolated bilateral SNHL in childhood. A small proportion of vertically infected children will be symptomatic at birth and they can have pneumonia, liver disease, or neurological problems. The central nervous system problems include microcephaly, cerebral palsy, and developmental delay. Trials are ongoing for the treatment of infected children in the newborn period with antiviral medication. There is no prenatal therapy at present, but trials are starting in this area also.

Some or all of these symptoms may occur in individual cases.

Inheritance patterns
None

Prenatal diagnosis
Infections can be diagnosed in pregnancy, and women should be encouraged to seek medical advice for minor flu like illnesses during pregnancy.

Medical text written November 1991 by Contact a Family. Approved November 1991 by Professor M Patton, Professor of Medical Genetics, St Georges Hospital Medical School, London, UK and Dr J E Wraith, Consultant Paediatrician, Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Manchester, UK. Last updated December 2004 by Dr M Sharland, Consultant Paediatrician in Paediatric Infectious diseases, St George's Hospital, London, UK.

Further Online Resources
Medical texts in The Contact a Family Directory are designed to give a short, clear description of specific conditions and rare disorders. More extensive information on this condition can be found on a range of reliable, validated web sites and links to them are included in the CD-ROM version of this Directory. Further information on these resources can be found in our Medical Information on the Internet article.

THE CONGENITAL CYTOMEGALOVIRUS ASSOCIATION

The Congenital Cytomegalovirus Association
11 Windmill Hill Lane
Kingsway
Derby
DE22 3BN
Tel: 01332 365528
e-mail: support@cmvsupport.org
Web: http://www.cmvsupport.org

The Association is a Self Help Group, established in 1986. It offers contact between families and campaigns for further research. It publishes a newsletter and has information available, details on request. The Association represents approximately 100 families.

Group details last updated February 2008.