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Cytomegalovirus
Background
Cytomegalovirus (the large cell virus) is very common and about 50 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 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 40 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 unborn baby becoming infected is about 40 per cent. Over 90 per cent of infected babies have no signs of anything wrong at birth.
