June is CMV awareness month...

June is CMV awareness month.

I had never heard of CMV until our little boy was diagnosed with it shortly after birth. I had never heard of a virus that can disable children. Little did I know that when we got our little boy (we adopted him) that he was very sick.  CMV has changed our lives forever.

Our little boy's story is posted here, "Joshua's Story"

More info on CMV

What is CMV?
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common virus that infects people of all ages and is usually harmless to people with a healthy immune system. Most people have been exposed to CMV at some point in their lifetime without realizing it. Most infections with CMV are "silent" or asymptomatic, meaning most people who are infected with CMV have no signs or symptoms. Once CMV is in a person’s body, it stays there for life.
What are the symptoms of CMV?
Most people don't realize that they have been infected with CMV because, usually, CMV produces no obvious symptoms. But symptoms of CMV infection can be similar to those of mononucleosis and include:

• High fever
• Fatigue
• General discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling
• Joint stiffness
• Muscle aches or joint pain
• Night sweats
• Prolonged fever
• Sore throat
• Swelling of the lymph nodes
• Weakness
• Loss of appetite
• Weight loss

What is congenital CMV?
Congenital CMV infection occurs when a pregnant woman is exposed to CMV and the CMV passes from the pregnant woman to her unborn child, causing birth defects and developmental disabilities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), CMV is the most common congenital (meaning from birth) viral infection in the United States. 
How common is congenital CMV?
1 in 150 children is born with congenital CMV in the United States. More children will have disabilities due to congenital CMV than other well-known infections and syndromes, including Down Syndrome, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, Spina Bifida, and Pediatric HIV/AIDS.
What happens to babies who are born with CMV?
Permanent health problems or disabilities that may occur due to congenital CMV infection:

• Hearing loss
• Vision loss
• Mental disability
• Feeding issues/Failure to Thrive (FTT)
• Sleeping issues
• Sensory issues
• Behavior issues
• Small head/small brain (Microcephaly)
• Intercranial calcifications
• Lack of coordination
• Cerebral palsy
• Seizures
• Death

(Note: If a newborn is diagnosed with congenital CMV, it does not mean that they will necessarily develop the above listed health problems and/or disabilities.)
How is CMV spread?
CMV is spread from one person to another, usually by close and prolonged contact with bodily fluids, including urine, saliva, and tears. CMV is very common among healthy children 1 to 3 years of age who are at high risk for contracting CMV from their peers. Contact with the saliva or urine of young children is a major cause of CMV infection among pregnant women, especially mothers, daycare workers, preschool teachers, therapists, and nurses.
Can CMV be prevented?
Yes. Here are a few simple steps you can take to avoid exposure to saliva and urine that might contain CMV:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for 15-20 seconds, especially after changing diapers, feeding a young child, wiping a young child's nose or drool, and handling children's toys
• Do not share food, drinks, or eating utensils used by young children
• Do not put a child's pacifier in your mouth
• Do not share a toothbrush with a young child
• Avoid contact with saliva when kissing a child
• Clean toys, countertops, and other surfaces that come into contact with children's urine or saliva

Should I be tested for CMV?
If you have symptoms of a CMV infection, blood tests can identify special proteins in your blood (antibodies) that are created by your immune system to fight off a CMV infection. The virus can also be detected by culturing or by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test from blood, other body fluids, or a tissue biopsy.
Are there treatments that can help?
Yes. For pregnant women, recent studies are working to determine whether CMV hyperimmune globulin treatment may reduce the risk of congenital infection and/or neonatal disease when given to pregnant women experiencing a primary CMV infection. For newborns, Ganciclovir and Valganciclovir are antiviral treatments that may be beneficial to a newborn with symptomatic congenital CMV, possibly preventing hearing loss and improving head and brain growth. Newborn treatments generally last from 6 weeks to 6 months and are administered orally or through an IV or PICC line. For more information, contact treatment@stopcmv.org. 
Is there a CMV vaccine?
Not yet. CMV vaccines are still in the research and development stage. Many experts believe that a CMV vaccine is possible within the next 10 to 20 years, but a CMV vaccine is unlikely to occur without the awareness and support of the general public, the pharmaceutical industry, and the federal government.

Resource www.stopcmv.org

 

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart;and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him,and he will direct thy paths. ~Proverbs 3:5-6