Dr. Komarovsky on cytomegalovirus infection

Renowned pediatrician Dr. Komarovsky frequently talks to parents about a range of health issues that are on their minds, including infection with the cytomegalovirus. Although this virus is widespread, many parents are unaware of its full nature and the potential consequences for their children.

The majority of people will at some point in their lives come into contact with cytomegalovirus, or CMV. It frequently results in mild illness or no symptoms at all in healthy adults and children. However, it can result in more serious complications for infants and people with compromised immune systems.

We’ll look at Dr. Komarovsky’s thoughts on the cytomegalovirus, symptoms, and parental protection in this article. Knowing about this virus can reduce some of the fear and offer doable measures to keep families safe.

About the virus

The cytomegalovirus is a member of the fifth class of herpes viruses. Under a microscope, it is quite interesting to see; in cross-section, it resembles a gear and has a shape similar to the round, prickly shell of chestnut fruits.

When this virus infects a person, cytomegalovirus infection results. It is not as violent, though; once inside the body, it can live there quietly for a while without making any kind of physical statement. It is referred to as an opportunistic virus because of this "tolerance," which only starts to replicate and spread disease under specific conditions. The primary cause is a compromised immune system. The most vulnerable to infection are those who use a lot of household chemicals frequently, live in an environmentally contaminated area, and take a lot of medications for whatever reason.

The salivary glands are a popular destination for cytomegalovirus. It then moves throughout the body from that point.

In any case, the body gradually makes antibodies against it, and once enough have built up, even a compromised immune system will be unable to initiate a cytomegalovirus infection.

Transmission routes

If sexual contact is the primary method of infection for adults, then kissing or coming into contact with the saliva of an infected person is the primary method for children, which is why the virus is sometimes referred to as the "kissing virus."

Additionally, a cytomegalovirus infection in the mother can transfer to the fetus during pregnancy, which can result in very serious developmental defects. When a child comes into contact with the birth canal’s mucous membranes, they run the risk of contracting an infection. Furthermore, in the early stages of its life, a baby may contract an infection from its mother’s milk.

Blood is another medium via which the cytomegalovirus can spread. The infant will undoubtedly develop into a cytomegalovirus carrier if they have received organ transplants from an infected donor and replacement blood transfusions from a donor who carries the virus.

Danger

This information is cited by Evgeny Komarovsky: All elderly people worldwide have come into contact with cytomegalovirus at some point in their lives. About 15% of teenagers who have already developed antibodies against this agent have already experienced the disease. 50–70% of individuals have CMV antibodies by the time they are 35–40 years old. The percentage of people immune to the virus increases even further by retirement. As a result, discussing any undue risk associated with the fifth virus type is challenging because many individuals who have contracted it are unaware that they have an infection at all; for them, the infection went entirely undetected.

The future mother must have firsthand experience with CMV during her pregnancy for the virus to pose a risk to her unborn child and pregnant women. The child is safe if the mother had a medical history and antibodies were discovered in her blood. However, a primary infection during pregnancy poses a risk to the unborn child, who may die or suffer from congenital abnormalities.

Congenital cytomegalovirus infection is the term used by medical professionals to describe infections that occur in babies during pregnancy or right after delivery. This diagnosis is pretty grave.

They refer to an acquired infection if the child has already come into contact with the virus during his conscious life. It is surmountable with minimal difficulty and repercussions.

The most frequent query from parents is: "What does it mean if the baby’s blood test results showed antibodies to the cytomegalovirus (IgG) and the diagnosis of CMV was +?" "There’s no need for concern," says Evgeniy Komarovsky. This does not imply that the child is ill; rather, it shows that his body has antibodies that prevent the cytomegalovirus from carrying out its "dirty work." Considering that the child has already come into contact with this virus, they were developed separately.

If the child tests positive for IgM+ in their blood, you should become concerned. This indicates that although there are no antibodies yet, the virus is present in the blood.

According to Dr. Komarovsky, cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is common and generally safe for most people, but it can be dangerous for immunocompromised individuals and pregnant women. He underlines that CMV frequently goes undiagnosed because it only manifests as minimal symptoms—much like a cold—or none at all. It can, however, occasionally result in complications, particularly in infants. Komarovsky counsels parents, particularly those who are pregnant, to remain calm, practice good hygiene, and see a doctor if they have any concerns.

Symptoms of infection

Physicians in the children’s section of the maternity hospital diagnose whether a newborn has cytomegalovirus infection. As soon as the baby is born, they do a lengthy blood test.

Parents should be aware that, in the event of an acquired infection, the illness itself may linger anywhere from two weeks to a month and a half, during the incubation period, which spans three weeks to two months.

The symptoms are extremely similar to a common viral infection, so even in a very vigilant mother, they won’t raise the slightest suspicion or doubt:

• body temperature rises;
• respiratory symptoms appear (runny nose, cough, which quickly turns into bronchitis);
• signs of intoxication are noticeable, the child has no appetite, he complains of headaches and muscle pain.

The child’s immune system will provide a potent counterattack to the virus, halting its spread, and causing the same IgG antibodies to surface in the infant’s blood. But if the infant’s defenses are insufficient, the infection may "hide" and take on a slow, deep form that affects the nervous system and internal organs. A widespread type of cytomegalovirus infection affects the kidneys, adrenal glands, liver, and spleen.

Treatment

Treatment for cytomegalovirus infection is traditionally similar to that for herpes infection, with the exception that medications are selected to target the cytomegalovirus specifically rather than herpes as a whole. These two products are rather pricey and go by the names "Ganciclovir" and "Cytoven."

Ample fluids and vitamins are prescribed for the child during the acute phase of the illness. Antibiotics are not necessary for simple cytomegalovirus infections because they are ineffective against viruses.

A doctor may prescribe antibacterial agents if the disease is progressing slowly or if internal organs are experiencing inflammation.

While cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection may seem concerning, Dr. Komarovsky stresses that most healthy children are typically not at risk from it. The infection usually goes unnoticed and doesn’t need to be treated specifically.

He does, however, counsel parents to exercise greater caution when it comes to infants, expectant mothers, or those with compromised immune systems. In these situations, CMV may present a higher risk and necessitate more frequent medical care.

The main lesson to be learned from Dr. Komarovsky’s method is to remain calm. Informed parents should keep an eye on their kids’ health and seek medical advice from time to time. In most cases, CMV is not something to be unduly concerned about.

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