Cytomegalovirus (CMV) in the Immunocompromised Patient
Explanation | Causes | Symptoms | Treatment l Preventive Action l When to Call the Doctor
What is cytomegalovirus?
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a virus that commonly causes infection. CMV infection may cause flu-like illness or even no symptoms. Most adults and many children have been around someone with CMV. After a person has had a CMV infection, the virus becomes non-active in the body. It can reactivate months or years later. Reactivation of the virus most often happens when a person's immune system is weakened or suppressed.
People most likely to have a weakened immune system include those:
- With Acquired Immunde Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
- Treated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy or steroid therapy
- Who have received an organ or bone marrow transplant
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Causes
Cytomegalovirus can be spread by contact with most body fluids, including urine, stool, saliva, blood, tears or breast milk of a person with a CMV infection.
Before an organ or bone marrow transplant, both the patient and the donor will be tested for exposure to CMV as well as to other viruses. If the patient or the donor is positive for CMV, then the patient may be treated with a medicine to keep the virus from reactivating after the transplant.
Symptoms
Symptoms can vary and range from mild to severe. Symptoms may include:
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Treatment
An antiviral medicine may be used to prevent or to treat a CMV infection for those patients with a weakened immune system or for transplant patients. These patients may need to be in the hospital or receive IV medicine at home.
It is very important to notify your child's physican as soon as symptoms start so that proper treatment can be started.
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Prevention
Some ways to help prevent a CMV infection include:
- Good handwashing, especially after changing diapers, as the virus is found in urine of a person infected with the virus.
- Avoid contact with anyone who is obviously sick.
- Do not share food, eating utensils, cups and/or bottles, as the virus is found in the saliva of a person infected with the virus.
- Avoid crowds. You may be asked to keep your child away from crowds and out of school or day care for the first three months or during high risk periods following transplant or during chemotherapy treatment. Please check with your child's physician for the specific amount of time to avoid crowds.
- Not kissing, as the virus may also be passed along to someone through kissing or sexual contact.
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When to Call the Doctor
Call your doctor if your child is experiencing:
Fever
Diarrhea
Abdominal pain
Sore throat
Muscle aches
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