Herpes Doctor

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) spreads via bodily fluids such as saliva, blood,
urine, semen, tears, breast milk etc. You need intimate contact with
someone who has CMV to catch it. If you get the virus on your
hands, you can just wash it off with soap and water.

Cytomegalovirus will stay in your body once you've caught it. That's
nothing to worry about though, as your body will develop antibodies to
keep the virus latent and harmless. Normally CMV only transmits
in the first few months of infection.

There are usually no symptoms if you have CMV so you
wont really know if you or someone else has it. If you are healthy
you have nothing to worry about. CMV in healthy
people is quite harmless and is usually not connected to any
complications or illnesses.

Some Groups are at Risk However

Immunocompromised Patients

Cytomegalovirus is a Beta Herpes virus and like most other Herpes
viruses it thrives on a low immune defense system. AIDS patients,
organ transplant patients and other immunocompromised patients are
at risk from CMV which in these cases can have serious
complications such as Hepatitis or Retinitis.

Teenagers

Some teenagers may experience Mononucleosis like symptoms such
as severe fatigue, lack of appetite, fever, swollen glands etc.
this is quite harmless and will pass on its own.

Pregnant Women

Women who do not already have CMV run a small risk if
they catch it during pregnancy. Babies born with CMV risk
brain damage, hearing and visual impairment and similar damage caused
by the virus. 1 to 3% of women who do not already have CMV
will catch it during pregnancy and of these pregnancies 45% babies
will get CMV and develop complications.

Health Care Professionals

The best way to prevent catching Cytomegalovirus is to wash your
hands regularly especially if you work in the health care
industry. There is no cure for CMV but antiviral
treatment can be prescribed if needed which will have some effect
in keeping the virus latent.

Related Links

• Should you see a doctor for Cytomegalovirus
• How do you avoid passing CMV to others?

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