Congenital Cytomegalovirus (CMV)

Author

Patty Fleming, Otterbein UniversityFollow

Academic Term

Summer 2015

Document Type

Project

Course Number

NURS 5330

Course Name

Advanced Pathophysiology

Professor’s Name

John D. Chovan, James R. Cacchillo

Keywords

Herpes Virus Infections, Varicella-Zoster Virus, Epstein-Barr Virus

Subject Categories

Medical Pathology | Medicine and Health Sciences | Nursing | Virus Diseases

Abstract

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common herpes virus infection that is usually harmless and belongs to a group of herpes viruses that includes the herpes simplex viruses, varicella-zoster virus (which causes chickenpox and shingles), and the Epstein-Barr virus (which causes infectious mononucleosis). Once CMV is in a person's body, it stays there throughout their life. (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010). CMV is shed in various bodily secretions, especially urine and saliva (Congenital Cytomegalovirus Foundation, 2014). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the majority of otherwise healthy children and adults infected with CMV are asymptomatic while others may develop a mild illness when they get infected. Among every 100 adults in the United States, 50–80 are infected with CMV by the time they are 40 years old (2010). So why is a viral infection that is likely to cause a mild illness (if it causes symptoms at all) a concern? Because CMV can cause serious disease and have life-long effects on a newborn if a mother passes CMV on to the fetus during pregnancy (congenital CMV Infection). Congenital CMV is a known to be one of the most common fetomaternal viral infections (Kaneko et. al, 2013). This paper aims to bring awareness and an improved understanding of congenital CMV to advanced practice nursing students.

Recommended Citation

Fleming, Patty, "Congenital Cytomegalovirus (CMV)" (2015). Nursing Student Class Projects (Formerly MSN). 120.
https://digitalcommons.otterbein.edu/stu_msn/120