What Is CMV? Facts About the Silent Virus and the Danger It Poses to Pregnant Women, Babies

CMV Silent Virus common virus cytomegalovirus Newborn Babies pregnant women Pregnancy

By Joel Brussels , Parent Herald Apr 08, 01:50 pm

Photo: (Photo : Anastasia Vlasova/Getty Images)

Anthea Marsh was desperate for some good news after she suffered a miscarriage. Marsh got just that when she fell pregnant again, with the expectant mother scheduling an eight-week appointment with her obstetrician to check on the status of her baby.

That joy turned into horror minutes into the appointment, when the obstetrician discovered that Marsh's husband has been sick with CMV (Cytomegalovirus). Marsh told ABC her obstetrician's face dropped when she found out her husband's sickness.

Anthea got herself tested immediately to find out if she also contracted the virus. Unfortunately for Marsh, she also tested positive for CMV, despite being asymptomatic. Upon learning that the couple conceived when Anthea's husband had CMV, doctors told them that their chances of having a healthy baby were very small.

Marsh forced to terminate pregnancy because of CMV

Armed with that knowledge, the Marshes decided to terminate the pregnancy. Anthea said that it was probably the hardest decision they have ever made as that pregnancy was coming after a miscarriage.

Anthea said what was so difficult to understand was why she was never warned about CMV before, during her previous pregnancies, or even by their GP when they had discovered that her husband had been sick with the cytomegalovirus. Anthea said there was no talk of CMV being an issue for her.

So what are the facts about CMV and why is it so dangerous for unborn babies of pregnant women. CMV has been described by Insight Plus as a silent virus as it can be passed on from person-to-person without their knowledge, with the transmission usually happening via a close contact.

Young children apparently are the ones who are the most common sources of infection. The chances of contracting CMV are much higher if there is already a child in the family, or if the mother works with young kids.

It affects around 83 percent of adults, most of whom remain asymptomatic, which was the case with Anthea. If a patient becomes symptomatic, though, CMV is felt like a cold or a flu. Once a person tests positive for CMV, the virus remains viable but usually dormant, or inactive, in the body.

Congenital CMV a major problem for newborn babies

Pregnant women who catch CMV could pass the virus onto their unborn child, resulting in congenital CMV. It is the most common infectious cause of disability among newborn babies, despite affecting just 0.2 to 2.2 percent of births.

While most of the babies born with CMV will not suffer from the disease, it can cause injury to the baby's brain in some cases, which can result in developmental delay, learning problems, and hearing loss. In serious cases, congenital CMV can cause infant death, stillbirth, or severe disabilities like profound hearing loss or cerebral palsy.

According to CMV Australia, studies have shown that about six infants out of 1,000 live births will have congenital CMV infection. More than 400 babies each year are born in Australia with a life-long disability caused by CMV.