Hearing a doctor's statement that it is necessary to give an analysis for cytomegalovirus or seeing this diagnosis in your card, you feel like a carrier of an alien infection. The word is long, mysterious, what could it mean? It's also interesting what is cytomegalovirus, what are its symptoms and signs? Then prepare to be surprised - cytomegalovirus is a relative of herpes simplex, and more than 70% of the adult population is infected with it. Although many of this and do not suspect - in the body of an adult healthy person cytomegalovirus without any manifestation to exist for many years. Problems begin with a decrease in immunity.
Cytomegalovirus: symptoms in women
As already mentioned above, the symptoms of cytomegalovirus appear only in the period of exacerbation. Most of all, it does not seem like an ordinary cold disease - headache, fever, chills, joint and muscle pain, etc. Against this background, serious diseases can develop - pneumonia, encephalitis, an increase in liver size. Particular danger of cytomegalovirus is pregnant women, because of them the virus can be transmitted to the baby. Most children with congenital cytomegalovirus do not experience any inconvenience, the virus may not manifest itself for a lifetime. But for some children, infection with cytomegalovirus carries various temporary and persistent symptoms. Temporary - low weight, rashes on the skin, damage to the spleen and liver. A growing body of such symptoms wins and no consequences are found. Constant manifestations remain with the child, intensifying as they grow older. This may be a delay in development, impaired coordination, impaired vision or hearing.
How to identify cytomegalovirus?
To reveal a cytomegalovirus it is possible only at delivery of the analysis on it or him. Most often, such directions are given to pregnant women, because the special danger of cytomegalovirus is for them. For the pregnant woman, the best is an analysis showing a small amount of antibodies in the body, because this indicates a transferred disease and, as a consequence, the presence of some immunity to it. A future mother, who had no previous business with cytomegalovirus, is in greater danger, and therefore must observe more precautions. Cytomegalovirus can be detected in the blood or in a smear, or in one of the tests. This virus lives in all body fluids, even in tears. The danger is the presence of the virus in breast milk, as in this case the disease will pass to the child. And how in general it is possible to catch a cytomegalovirus?
Cytomegalovirus: how is it transmitted?
Having learned that cytomegalovirus lives in different body fluids, we can assume how it is transmitted. The disease can be obtained with unprotected sexual contact, kisses, blood transfusions, organ transplants. True, the virus is not a very contagious disease, so that it takes a long and hard exchange of fluids with the carrier to acquire it.
Is it necessary to treat cytomegalovirus?
Positive analysis for cytomegalovirus does not mean that you need treatment. This may mean that the virus lives in the body, but not in the active phase. In this case, treatment is not required, since it is impossible to completely expel the virus from the body. Measures are required only if exacerbated. In this case, antiviral drugs and immunity support are prescribed.