Table of Contents
How does CMV cause pneumonia?
Causes. CMV pneumonia is caused by a member of a group of herpes-type viruses. Infection with CMV is very common. Most people are exposed to CMV in their lifetime, but typically only those with weakened immune systems become ill from CMV infection.
What does CMV cause in newborns?
CMV is the most common cause of non-genetic hearing loss at birth. CMV infections that happen in kids after the newborn period usually don’t cause serious illness. But some kids may develop pneumonia, hepatitis (inflammation of the liver), or a rash.
What is CMV pneumonia?
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that can occur in people who have a suppressed immune system.
How is CMV pneumonia treated?
Treatment. The goal of treatment is to use antiviral drugs to stop the virus from copying itself in the body. Some people with CMV pneumonia need IV (intravenous) medicines. Some people may need oxygen therapy and breathing support with a ventilator to maintain oxygen until the infection is brought under control.
How is CMV pneumonia diagnosed?
Definitive diagnosis of CMV pneumonia is determined based on a combination of symptoms and signs of pulmonary disease and detection of CMV in BAL fluid or lung tissue samples by virus isolation, histopathologic testing, immunohistochemical analysis or in in situ hybridization [1, 2].
What is the life expectancy of a baby with CMV?
At birth, 90% of babies born with congenital CMV will present as asymptomatic, showing no obvious and visible symptoms of the virus. These children are expected to live healthy lives, typically following standard growth and development patterns.
Can CMV cause death?
For people who have weakened immune systems, CMV infection can be serious or even fatal. People who have undergone stem cell or organ transplants seem to be at greatest risk. You develop a mononucleosis-like illness while you’re pregnant.
Does CMV reduce life expectancy?
CMV was strongly linked to socio-economic status, and CMV infection increased the annual mortality rate by 42% (Hazard ratio = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.11-1.76 after adjusting for age, sex and baseline socio-economic and health variables) corresponding to 3.7 years lower life expectancy from age 65.
How common is CMV in newborns?
CMV is the most common infectious cause of birth defects in the United States. About 1 out of 200 babies is born with congenital CMV. One out of 5 babies with congenital CMV will have symptoms or long-term health problems, such as hearing loss. In the most severe cases, CMV can cause pregnancy loss.
Can CMV cause sepsis?
CMV reactivation has been linked to bacterial sepsis and likely results from inflammation, transient immune compromise, and viral epigenetic changes.