Acquired CMV: Intro and Symptoms

Acquired CMV: Intro and Symptoms

If you have been affected by congenital CMV, it’s very possible that someone else in your life has also been affected by CMV, but in a very different way. It could be your grandmother who suffered from CMV complications during chemotherapy treatment to fight cancer. Or maybe a family friend who contracted CMV after a successful transplant surgery.

Whether congenital or acquired, CMV is a common and pervasive virus that can impact various lives in various different ways. So what is the difference between congenital CMV infection and what is often called "acquired" CMV infection?

• Congenital CMV infection occurs when a pregnant woman is exposed to CMV and the CMV passes from the pregnant woman to her unborn child, which can cause birth defects and developmental disabilities. 
• Acquired CMV infection is when a person is infected with CMV after birth, whether during childhood or adulthood. 

Acquired CMV is actually very common with anywhere from 50-80% of adults in the United States having been infected with CMV by the time they reach 40 years old. 
 
Most of these acquired CMV infections are considered "silent" or asymptomatic, meaning that most people who are infected with CMV will have no signs or symptoms. But, when symptoms of CMV are present, they can be similar to mononucleosis and can include any of the following:

• 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

Most typically healthy people who contract an acquired CMV infection will generally have few, if any, of these symptoms or further complications from the infection. Because infections among healthy persons are considered common and are usually asymptomatic, it isn't considered necessary to engage in efforts to prevent transmission among healthy children and adults.

Stay tuned for more information about the medical risks associated with acquired CMV infection as well as treatments available to treat acquired CMV.