Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common virus that is related to chickenpox, herpes simplex and mononucleosis. It is transmitted through body fluids. Most healthy people don’t even realize they have the virus. It can become a problem during pregnancy if a mother passes the active virus to the developing fetus or newborn baby. Transmission usually occurs during the first trimester but can happen at any time. When a baby is born with the CMV infection it is referred to as congenital CMV.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 30,000 babies are born with congenital CMV each year. The large majority of those babies do not experience any long-term problems as a result. However, about 1 in 750 children born in the U.S. develop problems as a result of the infection. This equates to about 5,000 children each year experiencing permanent health and wellness issues caused by CMV infection.
Some babies who have been infected with the virus have symptoms that are present at birth including:
- Jaundice
- Skin rash
- Small size at birth (or low birth weight)
- Enlarged spleen
- Enlarged and poorly functioning liver
- Pneumonia
- Seizures
Other babies are born with no symptoms but can develop complications later on. The most common late emerging symptom of congenital CMV is sensorineural hearing loss. Hearing loss can be mild to profound and may be progressive. A series of vision problems can also be present or emerge later on including retinitis, optic atrophy, anophthalmia (no eyeball), cataracts and coloboma.
Other complications related to congenital CMV may include intellectual and motor disabilities, cerebral palsy, and seizures.