Cytomegalovirus infection in healthy people often causes no symptoms at all. A small number of people will experience a sore throat, tiredness, generalised aches and pains and sore glands. These symptoms may last for two to three weeks. People with weakened immune systems can develop a more severe illness which may include infections of the blood, central nervous system, bowel, liver, kidneys, lungs or eyes.
The most serious disease is seen in a small percentage of babies infected before birth, who can experience small birth weights, lethargy, fitting, yellowing of the skin jaundice , rash and problems with brain, liver and spleen. This can result in lasting problems such as hearing loss, vision loss, small head size, cerebral palsy, developmental delay or intellectual disability.
In rare cases infection in babies may be fatal. Treatment for mild CMV infections is not usually required apart from bed rest and drinking plenty of fluids. For more serious CMV illness, treatment is most often in the form of antiviral drugs. Treatment may also be needed for complications such as pneumonia. Humans are the only source of CMV.
The risk of getting CMV through casual contact is very small. The virus is generally passed from infected people to others through direct contact with body fluids that carry the virus, such as urine, saliva, vaginal secretions, semen and breast milk. CMV can be shed in saliva and urine on and off for many months, sometimes years. Adults are usually infectious for less time than babies. People with weakened immune systems may experience a recurrence of CMV or may be infected with a new strain of the virus.
Pregnant women particularly, should observe strict hygiene practices to avoid contact with infectious fluids—especially around young children. Stay on top of latest health news from Harvard Medical School. Recent Blog Articles. Health news headlines can be deceiving. Why is topical vitamin C important for skin health? Preventing preeclampsia may be as simple as taking an aspirin. Caring for an aging parent? Tips for enjoying holiday meals. A conversation about reducing the harms of social media.
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Other rare complications for healthy adults include problems with the digestive system, liver, brain and nervous system. An infant whose mother first became infected with CMV during pregnancy is more likely to experience complications.
Complications for the baby can include:. Careful hygiene is the best prevention against CMV. You can take these precautions:. If you have weakened immunity, you may benefit from taking antiviral medication to prevent CMV disease. Experimental vaccines are being tested for women of childbearing age.
These vaccines may be useful in preventing CMV infection in mothers and infants, and reducing the chance that babies born to women who are infected while pregnant will develop disabilities. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version.
Overview Cytomegalovirus CMV is a common virus. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Bennett JE, et al. Cytomegalovirus CMV. Elsevier; Accessed Jan. Goldman L, et al. In: Goldman-Cecil Medicine.
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