Viruses do not detect themselves when they enter the body, which is caused by the stability of the immune system. As soon as a person gets sick or feels the approach of seasonal vitamin deficiency, hidden threats immediately undermine their once impeccable health and cause complications. Cytomegalovirus, a relative of herpes, is especially dangerous.

Cytomegalovirus virus

This is a viable infection, equally penetrating the organisms of children and adults, and matures asymptomatically for a long time. Without the harmful influence of pathogenic factors, the stage of rest and remission can prevail for many years. Cytomegalovirus infection joins the herpesvirus family; it can be diagnosed in a patient’s biofluid laboratory.

Even in the absence of symptoms, the virus carrier is dangerous to others, as it can infect an incurable disease. If you are interested in what cytomegalovirus is, you can always get more detailed information from your local physician. When a code with ICD-10 symbols is indicated in the medical record, its interpretation is as follows: cytomegalovirus infection in the patient.

How is cytomegalovirus transmitted?

A person became the carrier of a pathogenic infection. Since the pest is found in high concentrations in biological fluids, such samples become the main carrier of pathogenic flora. The answer to the question of how people become infected with cytomegalovirus is obvious - through a kiss, when sexual contact, when sneezing and talking with an interlocutor. Also, one should not exclude the risk of infection during blood transfusion, the transfer of infection to the fetus from the biological mother.

Symptoms

There are known diagnoses that cannot be overcome modern medicine. Along with the herpes virus and HIV, it is impossible to destroy cytomegalovirus forever - what it is is already clear. A microscopic infection penetrates the blood and causes the body’s immune response in the form of protein antibodies – lgg and lgm. As a result, the immune response is suppressed and harmful flora develops. If in systemic blood flow Cytomegalovirus infection is rapidly developing, the symptoms in the body are as follows:

• fever;
• muscle weakness;
• a sharp decline in performance;
• inflammation and pain of the lymph nodes;
• problems with hearing, vision, coordination of movement (in the severe stage).

It is important to note that with the latent form of the disease, alarming symptoms do not bother you, and the patient is not even aware of the spread in the body fatal infection. Once you get sick, we are talking about chronic or inflammatory ailments not related to the immune system; how it becomes obvious what CMV is, how the disease behaves in the body, what it threatens.

In women

It is already known what infection causes the disease, but it is important to add that during pregnancy, representatives of the fairer sex, against the background of non-productive immunity, are at risk. Otherwise, the symptoms of cytomegalovirus in women are similar to the symptoms of the disease in the male body. You can note the presence of common symptoms of influenza. This:

• body temperature 37 degrees;
• body aches;
• joint pain;
• muscle weakness.

These are typical for acute stage symptoms of the disease that subsequently disappear. Cytomegalovirus becomes chronic, prone to relapses, mainly when the immune system is weakened. This is especially true for an infected young lady. dangerous disease, since the planned pregnancy will not occur or will end in miscarriage.

During pregnancy

During intrauterine development, the body of the expectant mother is weakened, which is favorable conditions for infection and subsequent spread of pathogenic infection. Cytomegalovirus in pregnant women poses a serious threat to mother and child, and the clinical outcome can be the most unpredictable. Complications for women's health in " interesting position"may be as follows:

• spontaneous abortion;
• birth bleeding;
• polyhydramnios;
• pathologies of the placenta;
• genitourinary diseases;
• fetal stillbirth;
• not nursing a pregnancy;
• problems in gynecology.

The consequences for the child, starting in the prenatal period, are as follows:

• congenital deafness;
• heart disease;
• hydrocephalus;
• eye and dental diseases;
• mental development disorder.

Cytomegalovirus in newborns

If the mother becomes infected with an incurable infection while pregnant, the baby is born with cytomegalovirus. When a pregnant woman was already a carrier of the virus at the time of conception, the baby can be born healthy. If congenital cytomegalovirus is detected, the microbe turns a new person into a disabled person from the first days of life. Doctors strongly recommend approaching pregnancy planning with special responsibility.

In men

The disease can also appear in the male body, while for a long time it is disguised as the classic symptoms of ARVI, affects physical activity, and causes loss of strength. Genital cytomegalovirus is an asymptomatic disease, however, when the immune system is weakened, the signs of the disease have the following classification in the body:

1. Main symptoms. This is a general intoxication of the body with acute malaise and a violation of low-grade body temperature.
2. Minor symptoms. Pathologies of the genitourinary area, when the pathological process spreads to the urethra.
3. Clinical symptoms. Skin rash, swollen lymph nodes, nasal congestion, systematic migraine attacks, general weakness body.

Cytomegalovirus - diagnosis

The patient may have heard a lot about what a cytomegalovirus infection is, but it is difficult for him to imagine how to accurately diagnose this disease. They will start working already medical workers who recommend comprehensive examination, based on the study of the concentration and composition of biological fluids of the body. Required following procedures:

• serological examination to determine the avidity of the pathogenic infection;
• cytological analysis of tissues to determine the extent of damage to cellular structures;
• ELISA for simple and quick determination of antibodies in the blood;
• light microscopy to determine the extent of tissue and cell damage;
• DNA diagnostics for cellular modifications;
• PCR to find out where the pathogenic infection came from;
• a general urinalysis to determine additional pathological processes body.

Blood test

Laboratory studies help to study not only the concentration of infection in biological fluid, but also the stage of its development. For example, in a serological study, cytomegalovirus indicators determine the activity characteristic illness. Alternatively, a jump in immunoglobulin M characterizes the relapse stage, and an excess of the norm in immunoglobulin G is more suitable for a period of remission of this disease.

How to treat cytomegalovirus

No matter what the doctors did, what therapeutic measures they did not carry out, they were unable to achieve a complete recovery of the clinical patient. Treatment of cytomegalovirus infection is aimed at strengthening the immune system, preventive measures and reducing the number of relapses of the underlying disease. Doctors know what CMV is, but they don’t even know how to cure it. The approach to the problem is comprehensive and involves taking the following medications:

1. Antiviral drugs: Panavir, Ganciclovir, Forscanet.
2. Interferons: Viferon, Cycloferon, Leukinferon.
3. Immunoglobulins: Megalotect, Cytotect.
4. Symptomatic treatment: according to medical indications.

In children

If a child is sick, the choice intensive care depends on him age category. Children under 6 years of age can only eliminate cold symptoms using conservative methods, and older children can take antiviral drugs to reduce the activity of a dangerous infection. In the latter case, it is important to recall that such medications have a toxic effect and have side effects. Before curing cytomegalovirus by medication, you need to consult with your local pediatrician.

Is cytomegalovirus dangerous?

A carrier of a dangerous infection can infect people with whom he comes into contact to varying degrees. He does not need treatment if his immunity is strong. However, over time, the immune response noticeably weakens, and cytomegalovirus gradually destroys internal organs. The nervous system suffers. When asked by a patient whether cytomegalovirus is dangerous, doctors always answer in the affirmative, and it does not matter whether the victim is an adult or a child.

Prevention

1. Compliance with the rules of personal hygiene has great value to prevent the activity of a pathogenic infection in the body.
2. Necessary timely treatment viral and colds, preventive measures.
3. When cytomegalovirus manifests itself, it is necessary to immediately be examined, find out and eliminate the cause of the pathology, and determine a treatment regimen.
4. If the smear is positive, the patient will have to undergo long-term treatment.
5. The best prevention cytomegalovirus – timely strengthening of the immune system using medicinal and natural methods.

Video

Cytomegalovirus was discovered by researchers in the twentieth century and was named a combination Greek word"cytos" - cell, "mega" - large and Latin "virus" - poison. By the very name of cytomegalovirus it is clear that it has a toxic effect on the cells of the body and is a poison for the cell.

The structure of CMV is a representative of the genus of human herpes virus type five. There are three known strains of cytomegalovirus. Like all types of herpes viruses, cytomegalovirus can remain in the human body for a long time, asymptomatically, but the person is contagious to his partners.

Cytomegalovirus has a tropism in the cells of the salivary glands, so doctors often begin their search for it with the salivary glands.

The virus develops in human connective tissue cells (fibroblasts). Infected cells grow to gigantic sizes as virus particles accumulate. Cytomegalovirus replication occurs in white blood cells and ends with the formation of daughter virions that rupture the affected cells, enter the bloodstream and attack healthy cells.

Epidemiology

Cytomegalovirus is widespread throughout the globe; 57.9% of people over six years of age have antibodies to cytomegalovirus antigens. In the group of elderly people, 91% of the population are strongly positive according to serological testing.

Routes of infection:

• Contact household
• Sexual
• Vertical
• Iatrogenic

There are several types of antiviral drugs with pronounced clinical effectiveness in newborns, people with immunodeficiency and pregnant women.

Ganciclovir is used in patients with secondary immunodeficiencies or having severe systemic diseases, malignant neoplasms. There is a drug that has an antiviral effect even when taken orally (Valganciclovir). Now scientists note a decrease in its effectiveness due to the emergence of resistant types of the virus. If there is resistance to ganciclovir, cidofovir is used; it is toxic and mainly affects kidney function.

Prevention of infection development

Prevention is personal hygiene for those in family contact with a patient with cytomegalovirus infection. This is especially true for women. The use of barrier contraception (condoms) is reduced, although the possibility of infection with cytomegalovirus infection is not excluded.

Since this infection is especially dangerous for the fetus in the first trimester of pregnancy, a vaccine has been developed that is used only for pregnant women. The effectiveness of the vaccine does not exceed 50 percent, so researchers are now working to improve it.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV – Cytomegalovirus) is one of the most common viruses in the human population. It affects more than 90% of the urban population of the entire planet, more than half of children of any age and a significant number of the rural population. At the same time, medicine still does not have the means to completely destroy it in the body, and therefore everyone infected with cytomegalovirus at any age is a carrier of it.

All these qualities of cytomegalovirus are due to the peculiarities of its structure and biology. Which, by the way, were studied in detail relatively recently...

History of the discovery of cytomegalovirus

Myself CMV virus was discovered in 1956 by researcher Margaret Gladys Smith. She also owns the first detailed description of the virus. As often happens in science, almost simultaneously the virus was discovered by a group of scientists led by Smith and Rowe in the urine of a sick child.

Long before this, in 1881, the German pathologist Ribberts discovered cells in the kidney tissue of a stillborn child that were very large in size and had a clearly visible nucleus. It was Ribberts who was the author of the name of these cells “owl eyes” and the assumption that their appearance is associated with the action of some kind of infection.

A little later, scientists Tolbert and Goodpasture called such cells cytomegals, which later gave the name to the virus itself.

Virologist Weller connected the virus discovered by Margaret Smith and cytomegaly in 1957. He studied the properties of the virus in detail and found out that it is because of its action that cells turn into “owl eyes.”

Description of cytomegalovirus

Cytomegalovirus belongs to the herpesvirus family and has a structure similar to most of them.

The CMV viral particle - the so-called virion - has a spherical shape. The outer shell of the particle consists of two layers: the inner protein layer and the outer lipoprotein layer. Inside the particle, tightly packed, is a viral DNA molecule.

Most of the lipoprotein molecules protrude above the surface of the particle and form a kind of “fur” of it. The task of these molecules is to analyze the surfaces with which the particle comes into contact during its wanderings throughout the body. As soon as the virion collides with the cell wall, which is quickly recognized by lipoproteins, the particle attaches itself to it, drills through the cell wall and injects its DNA inside.

Then everything happens according to the usual scenario for all viruses: DNA penetrates into the cell nucleus, and the cell itself, along with the proteins it needs, begins to produce viral proteins. From the latter, new viral particles are collected, which leave the cell and go in search of the next “victims”.

Infection with cytomegalovirus and methods of its transmission

Cytomegalovirus multiplies most actively in the cells of the mucous membranes - in the salivary glands, nasopharynx, and vagina. And through them it most often penetrates the body. In this regard, the main methods of its transmission are:

• contact path by direct touch. Very often the virus is transmitted through kissing and sexual intercourse, less often through contact between children and adults.
• Airborne.
• Transplacental from mother to fetus
• For blood transfusion or multiple use medical instrument without sterilization.

Unlike many other herpes viruses, cytomegalovirus has a weak ability to infect the body, therefore, for its transmission, the contact between the carrier and the infected person must be quite dense and long-lasting.

Cytomegalovirus in the human body

CMV can infect almost all organs and tissues. The most favorable environment for its reproduction is epithelial cells, so most often the infection affects the membranes of organs. The severity and extent of the lesions depends on the state of the immune system and the method of infection.

In the body of adults, after contact with the mucous membranes, the virus enters the bloodstream. Here it multiplies and is stored for a long time in leukocytes. The ability of some types of leukocytes to migrate into tissues leads to the spread of the virus throughout the body. Reproduction of the virus in cells bone marrow gives new generations of infected leukocytes, making it almost impossible complete removal pathogen from the body.

With reduced immunity, the virus can cause inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract with the formation of ulcers of the esophagus, stomach, large and small intestines. Such patients often develop hepatitis, pneumonia, damage to the spleen, peripheral nerves, retinal necrosis. Occasionally, inflammation of the heart muscle, joints, lining of the lungs and brain is observed.

When CMV is transmitted from mother to fetus through the placenta, the infectious process begins from the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract. Most often, this leads to the development of atypical pneumonia with the replacement of normal lung tissue with connective tissue (scarring). Cytomegalovirus can also invade the kidneys, brain, and spinal cord, causing fetal developmental defects.

A characteristic sign of cytomegalovirus multiplication in the body is the appearance of giant cells. Their core contains clusters of viral particles, which is why it greatly increases in size, giving the cell a resemblance to an owl’s eye:

Tissue damage during cytomegalovirus infection is caused by the reaction of the immune system - the destruction of virus-infected cells by T-lymphocytes. In severe forms of the disease in the blood and organs large quantities Immune complexes are formed - aggregates of antibodies with viral particles. These complexes are dissolved by the complement system, which is accompanied by damage to surrounding tissues and the development of inflammation.

The body's immune response to CMV

Immediately after a surge in the number of viral particles in the body, the immune system produces special proteins - immunoglobulins (Ig), which are able to bind and destroy virions. First of all, class M immunoglobulins appear, followed by IgG, specific to cytomegalovirus. The former do not live long and provide short-term protection for the body. The latter, after appearing in the body, remain in it for life, providing lifelong immunity.

Cytomegalovirus infection and its complications

When the body is severely affected, cytomegalovirus causes symptoms collectively called cytomegalovirus infection . It is characterized by inflammatory processes in different areas body, and depending on the strength of the body’s immune system, it may show almost nothing, or may cause serious complications:

• mononucleosis-like syndrome, manifested by cold symptoms, sore throat, malaise and fever
• liver inflammation
• pneumonia
• encephalitis
• retinitis.

All these diseases are characteristic almost exclusively of people with immunodeficiencies and, rarely, of newborns. In most cases, cytomegalovirus infection is asymptomatic in the body, and a person may not even know that he has become infected and has had it.

Diagnosis of cytomegalovirus infection

For accurate diagnosis cytomegalovirus infection should resort to quite expensive and complex methods of analysis. This is only relevant for pregnant women, immunocompromised patients and infants. The presence of CMV in their blood is determined using:

• ELISA method trying to find antibodies produced against the virus
• PCR- a polymerase chain reaction method that allows you to find virus genes in tissues and blood
• cultural method, based on determining the nature of the virus by the nature of its damage to a special nutrient medium.

Based on external symptoms and examination, it is almost impossible to unambiguously determine the nature of the virus.

Fighting cytomegalovirus

The fight against cytomegalovirus is justified only if a person exhibits sufficient severe symptoms diseases. There are two different approaches to combat cytomegalovirus, which should be used in a comprehensive manner.

The first method of control is the use of antiviral drugs. Their action is to suppress the CMV replicative cycle and prevent it from multiplying freely in the body. Were developed special means, which selectively penetrate infected cells without damaging healthy ones. But it is worth considering that taking these medications is contraindicated for pregnant women, as they have a toxic effect on the body and can have a number of side effects. Therefore, the dose of the antiviral drug (especially Foscarnet, as the most active) must be accurately adjusted by the doctor.

The best known drugs against cytomegalovirus are Foscarnet, Ganciclovir, Viferon, Cidofovir.

The second method is the use of immunoglobulins. These are special proteins obtained from blood plasma that are capable of infecting foreign cells. Immunoglobulins act selectively: a specific type of immunoglobulin infects one type of virus. As a result, immunoglobulins are more effective in the fight against cytomegalovirus than antiviral drugs, the dose of which must be much higher. In addition, immunoglobulins are preferable because they do not have a toxic effect on the body and reduce the risk of re-infection.

To combat cytomegalovirus, the drugs Megalotect and Cytotect are used.

CMV infection during pregnancy

Prevention of complications of cytomegalovirus infection

The main rule for preventing cytomegalovirus infection is to maintain a strong immune system. This guarantees that the initial outbreak of infection will be easily tolerated and that there will be no relapses in the future.

Prevention of complications of cytomegalovirus infection in people with weakened immune systems is regular administration of human immunoglobulins or the use of antiviral drugs, but in lower doses than those used to treat the disease. However, individual doses and schedules for using drugs should only be determined by a doctor.

A little more than half a century has passed since cytomegalovirus (CMV) was discovered in 1956, after which its photos and pictures appeared. This unusual microorganism was immediately assigned to the herpesvirus family, where the type 1 and type 2 viruses causing herpes on the lips and genital herpes had already been identified much earlier. Some of its properties are similar to those of representatives of this family. One of them is lifelong presence in the body infected person mainly in latent form. Although cytomegalovirus is still not a thoroughly studied microorganism, there is enough information about it, so it’s time to answer the main question, what does cytomegalovirus mean?

What is cytomegalovirus disease?

About 90% of the population are carriers of cytomegalovirus infection, but few of this number know what cytomegalovirus means and what it looks like in photos and pictures. CMV was discovered by Margaret Gladys Smith, who gave a detailed description of the microorganism.

The effect of CMV is ambiguous. It can, like other types of herpes, remain in the body all the time, remaining in a latent form. With reduced immunity, cytomegalovirus infection, also called cytomegaly, is active. As soon as it enters a healthy cell, it begins to increase in size. That is why cytomegaly literally means “giant cell”. Cells affected by CMV quickly change their structure and swell excessively. The main habitat of the virus is the salivary glands.

Routes of infection with the cytomegalovirus virus

When CMV infection was first identified, it was defined as “kissing disease” and was assumed to be transmitted only through saliva during kissing. After a more detailed study of the virus, other ways of its spread became known. CMV infection usually occurs at any age. Children in early childhood become infected through everyday contact from their parents or friends in kindergartens; sexual partners transmit the infection to each other during intimacy. Such routes of infection as infection of the fetus with a virus in utero or transmission of CMV to the infant through breast milk cannot be excluded. Household contacts transmission of the virus is practically not observed; perhaps only patients who do not have very weak immunity can be infected through common objects.

Symptoms and signs of the presence of cytomegalovirus

Most often, cytomegalovirus infection in children is asymptomatic. And the signs depend on how strong the immune system of the carrier of the infection is. If the virus does not show any activity, it is completely safe for those in whose body it has taken root. Its only danger is that it can cause illness in those nearby who have weakened immune systems.

Sometimes, after infection, symptoms of cytomegalovirus may appear. In all respects, it resembles colds:

• Feeling worse
• Weakness
• Temperature rise
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Increase salivary glands
• Pain when swallowing

Soon the symptoms disappear, health returns to normal, and antibodies appear in the blood of the infected patient. They will be reliable protectors against the virus that remains in the body.

If patients have immunodeficiency, CMV infection causes severe complications that will take a long time to treat. The consequences of such virus activity may include sepsis, pneumonia, and damage to various internal organs. Often, in children, against the background of active reproduction of CMV infection in the body, cytomegalovirus rhinitis occurs, in which patients first experience blurred vision, which, as inflammation of the retina develops, leads to complete blindness.

The most dangerous manifestation of cytomegalovirus, as in the photo, is brain encephalitis. If left untreated, it leads to loss of limb mobility.

Diagnostics and tests for cytomegalovirus

A healthy person has no need to look for cytomegalovirus disease in his body. This diagnosis is prescribed for pregnant women who have an immunodeficiency or are unable to bear a child, patients with oncology, atypical pneumonia, and frequent groundless increases in temperature.

In laboratory conditions, it is possible to determine both the presence of the virus itself or its DNA in the test material (sputum, saliva), and antibodies in the blood. To diagnose the virus, it is effective to conduct a smear examination and culture of the patient’s material under study. Since CMV has DNA, in severe cases of the disease a PCR test is prescribed. Blood serum is tested to detect antibodies to cytomegalovirus. Presence IgG antibodies indicates a past illness and the presence of immunity; the presence of IgM antibodies to CMV infection is alarming, since such a result indicates a current infection, which is dangerous for patients at risk.

Treatment of CMV infection

If cytomegalovirus is detected, as with herpes in a latent form, treatment is not required if the immune system is strong, which itself adequately copes with protecting the body from the manifestation of the virus. After the infection has been tolerated, protective immunoglobulins will be produced that will prevent you from contracting cytomegaly in the future.

The situation is completely different for those who have a weakened immune system. They will have to treat the disease with antiviral drugs, as well as strengthen the immune system. The doctor prescribes only those drugs that can block the active reproduction of the virus, preventing it from infecting new cells. Cidofovir, foscarnet, and viferon are proposed as effective medications for the treatment of diseases caused by cytomegalovirus. Panavir is considered universal for combating cytomegalvirus infection, which is prescribed by injection. These medications cannot be prescribed independently, because they have a number of contraindications and require certain dosage for a specific patient.

Immune therapy is carried out in combination with the main treatment. Cytotect is recommended as a drug that strengthens the immune system.

Prevention of cytomegalovirus infection

Preventive measures will help protect people with weakened immune systems from contracting cytomegalovirus infection, as well as herpes and other diseases. You don’t have to do anything supernatural, just follow the basic rules of taking care of your health and the virus will not attack:

• Using a condom when having contact with an unfamiliar partner, regardless of what type of sex is practiced (vaginal, oral, anal).
• Develop the habit of never using other people's things. It can be especially unpleasant and dangerous to use towels and washcloths that belong to others.
• You cannot use someone else’s dishes, bed linen, or razors for personal purposes.
• Do not have close contact even with people you know well if you know that they may be carriers of viruses.

People who have a strong immune system, eat right and lead a healthy lifestyle do not need to fear a cytomegalovirus infection. They are simply not afraid of CMV.

Not everyone is familiar with cytomegalovirus. Symptoms of this disease may not express themselves for a long time, it all depends on the immune system of the human body. If the immune system is normal and the virus is present in the body, then the person is a carrier and can infect others without knowing that he himself is sick.

If a decrease in immunity occurs under the influence of provoking factors: hypothermia, stress, then the disease begins to manifest itself.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) belongs to the herpesvirus family. Today, 80 varieties of Herpes viruses are known. A person is susceptible to eight types, which are divided into groups:

• a-viruses. This group includes herpes simplex types 1 and 2, chickenpox and herpes zoster. This group affects and affects the nervous system;
• c-virus. herpes type VI. Affects the kidneys and salivary glands;
• Y-virus. VII and VIII type of Herpes, infectious mononucleosis(Epstein-Barr disease).

These diseases affect lymphocytes in the blood and the human immune system suffers.

Transmission routes

Let's look at how you can become infected with cytomegalovirus and what the consequences of this disease are.
The disease can be congenital or acquired.
The congenital route of infection is when the virus is transmitted through the placenta and amniotic fluid.
Purchased for a baby - this is the birth canal and breastfeeding. When breastfeeding, the virus is transmitted from the mother through milk.

The entry points for cytomegalovirus in a healthy person are the mouth, genitals, and gastrointestinal tract.

The virus is transmitted from humans: through kissing, through other people's dishes, bed linen, sexual contact and personal hygiene items, during surgery - organ transplantation, through blood donation. Very rare, but airborne transmission is still possible.

Pathogenesis

When cytomegalovirus penetrates through oral cavity, esophagus or genitals, the virus is localized in the salivary glands, epithelium of the lungs and kidneys.

Less commonly affected are monocytes and lymphocytes in the blood. When a virus penetrates the cell membrane, it strives for the nucleus, inserts its DNA, and causes changes in the structure of a healthy cell. The cell becomes three times larger. The edges of the cell are painted in a light shade, and a dark inclusion appears in the center of the nucleus. Therefore, under a microscope it will look like a bird's eye. Once inside the cell, the virus does not kill it, but covers it with its cellular secretion. Therefore, the human immune system cannot recognize it and the virus can exist in such a latent state for a long time. Once the immune system weakens, the number of unhealthy cells begins to increase. The consequences of cell growth are the symptoms of the disease.

Symptoms

The disease is transmitted unnoticed; sometimes, when infected, mononucleosis can develop, which stops itself. Characteristic symptoms:

• temperature rises to 37-38 degrees;
• throat red, painful;
• nasal congestion, runny nose;
• headache, weakness, malaise.

All symptoms are very similar to Acute Respiratory Viral Infection. If the immunity is normal, then the symptoms disappear within a few days and the disease becomes latent, i.e. hidden form. When immunity is impaired, cytomegalovirus is much more severe. The severe course of the disease is influenced by factors such as HIV, taking glucocorticoid drugs, radiation sickness, oncology, stressful situation and lack of vitamins in the human diet.

The disease interferes with the functioning of the lymphatic system. Mainly affected are the cervical lymph nodes, behind the ears, sublingual, and submandibular. Sialadenitis may develop, where the salivary glands are affected.

Severe course

Let's look at how cytomegalovirus is dangerous.

At bad work immunity, severe course of the disease entails complications. There are different forms of complications:

1. Respiratory. After an organ transplant operation from a sick person, pneumonia develops. Statistics show death in 90% of cases.
2. Cerebral. Inflammation in the brain. Cerebral form course leads to dementia.
3. Gastrointestinal form. The disease manifests itself with symptoms of colitis, peptic ulcer. Often the consequences lead to ulcer perforation and peritonitis.
4. The hepatobiliary form of the disease, in which hepatitis is a complication, the liver increases in size.
5. Renal course of the disease. In this form, cytomegalovirus damages the urinary organs.
6. The hematological form, where the function of blood creation suffers, sepsis can become a complication.

At weak immunity The virus can cause eye damage and retinitis. Necrosis occurs in the retina of the eye, which can lead to blindness. Cytomegalovirus disease in men manifests itself as symptoms of testicular inflammation. In women, the disease is characterized by vulvovaginitis, endometritis, and colpitis.

Diagnostic test

To determine the type and form of the disease, laboratory diagnostics blood, examine saliva, genital smear, urine.

A biopsy is performed and the tissue taken is examined. Breast milk is taken if necessary, as well as rinsing after bronchopulmonary lavage.

The most accessible diagnosis is a microscopy study of a blood smear. This method detects altered cells, but its accuracy is up to 70%. To make a diagnosis, you need to determine antibodies to cytomegalovirus infection. There are laboratory methods, with the help of which this can be done. RIF is an immunofluorescence reaction, PCR is a polymerase chain reaction, ELISA is an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The most modern and effective method for detecting the disease is PCR - it allows you to detect cytomegalovirus in the early stages, even if obvious symptoms will be missing. ELISA - allows you to determine the concentration of immunoglobulin in the blood. At high levels, the significance of the active disease process can be identified. If immunoglobulin G is detected in the blood, we can talk about a latent form of carriage.

In addition to these blood tests, the doctor will prescribe an ultrasound of the kidneys and liver. It is recommended to consult a neurologist, a gynecologist, and for men a urologist.

Therapeutic measures

You need to know that cytomegalovirus is resistant to many medicines, which are used for herpes, therefore, in order to cure the disease, the following is prescribed:

1. The drug Ganciclovir. The dose is selected individually according to age and severity of the disease. For children under 5 years of age and in severe cases of the disease, it is prescribed intravenous administration from 5 to 10 mg per 1 kg per day. For a milder form, adults are prescribed the drug in tablets. Dosage – 3 g. Within 24 hours. Treatment lasts up to three months. The use of this drug is accompanied by many side effects from hematopoiesis - the number of platelets and granulocytes decreases. Noted allergic urticaria, impaired kidney function, headaches, liver damage, and seizures.
2. Foscarnet is contraindicated for use in infants. Has a risk of developing multiple complications. It is practically not absorbed in the stomach, so it is prescribed by injection. Adults dose – 180 mg per kg. For children, 120 mg per kg in the first three days, then the dose is reduced to 90 mg per kg. The course is three weeks.

These drugs inhibit the process of synthesis and renewal of cytomegalovirus DNA, but have a bad effect in diseases of the digestive system, pulmonary system, and in cases of brain disease. During pregnancy, these drugs are contraindicated, but are prescribed if the benefit to the mother outweighs the risk to the life of the fetus. Contraindicated during the lactation period.

These drugs have shown good result with the simultaneous administration of recombinant interferons, such as Viferon, Reaferon. Interferons increase the effectiveness of essential drugs.

Against the background of the disease, a person often develops secondary infections, for the treatment of which antibiotics are prescribed. The doctor will prescribe additional treatment: B - vitamins, magnesium, hepatoprotectors - medications for liver restoration, antioxidants, drugs to prevent damage to brain neurons (neuroprotectors), circulatory agents. Antiviral drugs are prescribed: Amiksin, Cycloferon, Tiloron.
To prevent the disease, immunoglobulin - Cytotect - is used. It is indicated for people with weakened immune systems, two weeks before organ transplant surgery - 1 ml per kg.

CMV in pregnancy

If a disease is discovered during pregnancy, doctors recommend termination and taking measures to treat the woman.

During pregnancy, women's immunity weakens due to hormonal changes, so a woman is at risk of contracting CMV. If she is already a carrier of cytomegalovirus, and the disease is dormant, then during pregnancy the virus is activated. The consequences become dangerous, because infection of the fetus through the placenta can cause its death or disruption of the general development of systems and various pathologies. Also, CMV infection can occur already at the embryonic stage, through sperm. Often the baby becomes infected in labor when passing through birth canal. Dangerous consequences diseases for the fetus will occur in the 1st trimester to the 23rd week of pregnancy.

When a fetus is infected with cytomegalovirus during the prenatal period, the following pathologies may develop:

• intrauterine death of a child, premature birth;
• pathologies of the development of the heart and vascular system;
• decreased hearing and vision of the child, there may be a complete loss of these functions;
• underdevelopment of the brain;
• liver enlargement, hepatitis;

• underdevelopment of musculoskeletal function;
• CNS lesions;
• microcephaly, dropsy.

Prevention during pregnancy

For those planning a pregnancy, prevention plays an important role, so before conception you should undergo all tests for CMV and, if necessary, undergo treatment. If a woman previously gave birth to a baby with a disease, then the next birth can only be planned after two years.

Basic preventive measures

In order to avoid becoming infected with cytomegalovirus, it is necessary to follow the rules of personal hygiene. Be aware of the modes of transmission of the disease and be careful with direct contact with body fluids. Towel, dishes, toothbrush, bed linen, etc. must be individual. Frequent hand hygiene is the most effective means of protection against the virus. During sexual intercourse, protection (condoms) should be used. Taking vitamins strengthens the immune system, which will help prevent illness and will not cause complications if infected. Remember that any stress can lead to a decrease in the immune system, which means awakening a dormant virus. Therefore, it is worth learning not to be exposed to stressful situations and cope with them.

Good preventative measures would also include avoiding crowded places during outbreaks of respiratory diseases. Try not to become infected with ARVI, so as not to expose your body to the risk of CMV infection. A prolonged cold or some symptoms of acute respiratory infections: runny nose, cough or low-grade fever are indications for testing for a virus of this etiology. For any herpes, you also need to get tested, since frequent herpetic reactions on the skin can be a sign of a more dangerous viral infection. If mononucleosis is detected, this is also the reason for referral for laboratory tests of CMV.
It must be remembered that the presence of symptoms of severe disease is typical for HIV-infected patients, therefore, if they occur, it is recommended to undergo an HIV test.

Be sure to monitor your diet and boost your immunity with physical activity.

To summarize, we can say that CMV is especially dangerous in people with weakened immune systems and in children whose infection occurred in the womb. Take care of your immunity, carry out diagnostics in time, and then the terrible virus will bypass you.

(CMVI, cytomegaly) - common viral disease, caused by cytomegalovirus (CMV), characterized by a variety of manifestations from asymptomatic to severe generalized forms with damage to internal organs and the central nervous system, especially in the presence of immunodeficiency.

For the first time, unusually large cells were discovered and called “protozoan-like bodies” by the German pathologist G. Ribbert in 1881, when he examined the kidneys of children who had died from various diseases. Subsequently, such “bodies” appeared in other organs, especially often in the salivary glands. The virus that caused this was independently isolated by American researchers: pathologist M. Smith - from the salivary glands of a deceased child (1955), virologist V. Rove - from lymphoid tissue human (1956), an outstanding pediatrician and virologist, Nobel Prize laureate T.G. Weller - in a patient with suspected toxoplasmosis (1957). It was T.G. Weller who gave the name of the virus to the effect it caused in cells - cytomegaly.

According to WHO, after 35 years, every third person on the planet has antibodies to CMV. IN different countries the incidence of virus infection varies from 45 to 98%; it is high in developing countries and in regions with low socio-economic status. The relevance of CMV infection is due to its significant prevalence among newborns and young children, high mortality, difficulties in interpreting thanatogenesis, especially in cases of generalization of the infectious process, and its role in the course of HIV infection as an HIV-associated disease.

CMV belongs to the genus Cytomegalovirus, subfamily Betaherpesvirinae, family Herpesviridae. Today, there are 2 serovars of the virus and many strains known, which may lead to morbidity of varying potential. CMV is well preserved at room temperature and is sensitive to disinfection solutions and heat. The virus grows only in human cells, preferably in cultured fibroblasts, and, like other herpes viruses, is capable of causing the characteristic phenomenon of cytomegaly - an increase in cell size with the inclusion of the viruses themselves in the form of an owl's eye in their structure.

The reservoir of CMV in nature is exclusively a person, a patient or a virus carrier. The virus is found in blood, urine, feces, secretions and biopsies from almost all tissues of the body. Infection under natural conditions requires fairly close contact with the source of infection. Mechanisms of transmission of CMV:

• airborne droplets (with saliva, household contact);
• blood-contact;
• contact (sexual tract);
• vertical (transplacental, from a sick mother to a child during childbirth and breastfeeding).

Thus, in approximately 10% of seropositive pregnant women, CMV is detected in the genital tract, and during childbirth, half of the newborns are infected. In 30-70% of seropositive mothers, the virus is excreted in breast milk, causing infection in up to 50% of infants. Risk categories for CMV infection include:

• newborns;
• people working in children's institutions;
• persons who have a large number of sexual partners;
• recipients of various tissues and blood;
• patients with immunodeficiency conditions.

There is no reaction at the site of virus introduction. Subsequently, asymptomatic persistence often develops. In some infected people, CMV enters the bloodstream and infects lymphocytes and monocytes.

The effects of the virus on immunocytes are second only to HIV in their destructiveness. As with HIV infection and tuberculosis, cytomegaly is characterized by a sharp inhibition of T-helper function while maintaining or increasing the activity of T-suppressors. The affected cells change dramatically; typical cytomegalic cells with large intranuclear inclusions are formed. CMV enters various target organs from the blood and directly from macrophages brought into these organs. Neutralizing antiviral antibodies are not able to protect the body. Virus-specific IgM is detected almost immediately after infection and for another 3-4 months later, persisting throughout subsequent life.

There is currently no single generally accepted classification of CMV infection. Often clinically distinguished:

• CMV latency - without clinical signs of damage to any organ, but in the presence of specific antibodies without an increase in their titer
  • congenital
  • acquired
• CMV diseases - with specific organ lesions
  • localized
  • generalized
  • acute (with primary infection)
  • chronic (with relapses).

• cytomegalovirus disease
• cytomegalovirus pneumonia
• cytomegalovirus hepatitis
• cytomegalovirus pancreatitis
• other cytomegalovirus diseases
• cytomegalovirus disease, unspecified.

In immunocompetent adults, the infection is usually asymptomatic. In some cases, the clinical picture resembles infectious mononucleosis (CMV mononucleosis) with the same symptoms as with EBV infectious mononucleosis. Against this background, granulomatous CMV hepatitis with fever, nausea, vomiting, jaundice, CMV pancreatitis, CMV interstitial pneumonia, myocarditis, which are not severe, may occur.

In immunocompromised individuals, CMV infection is always generalized and can affect various organs and systems with the development of severe pneumonia, myocarditis, encephalitis, aseptic meningitis, thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia, gastritis, hepatitis, retinitis, etc. A disseminated form of CMV often develops. Its frequent manifestation in HIV infection is retinitis, less often - esophagitis, colitis, polyradiculopathy, encephalitis.

How to treat cytomegalovirus infection?

Virus carriage and mononucleosis-like syndrome in persons with normal immunity do not require treatment.

Treatment is prescribed when various generalized forms of infection are detected. Effective treatment cytomegalovirus infection is ensured only by the simultaneous use of antiviral agents and correction of the cellular component of the immune response.

For the treatment of central nervous system lesions and generalized CMV infection, ganciclovir or valacyclovir are prescribed, but their effectiveness is assessed with skepticism. For CMV retinitis, the use of valganciclovir is acceptable. Leflunomide is also used.

Foscarnet and cidofovir are popular in developed countries. These types of antiviral drugs are assessed as highly toxic and have a lot of complications, so they are prescribed only for health reasons.

Specific anti-CMV immunoglobulins are used, as a rule, in severe immunodeficiency states (in HIV-infected people they are combined with antiretroviral therapy) or if it is impossible to carry out etiotropic and immunostimulating therapy (in pregnant women).

What diseases can it be associated with?

In the generalized form, epithelial cells of almost all organs and systems experience cytomegalic metamorphoses. As a result, they develop:

• subacute cholestatic,
• catarrhal or
• the formation of malformations of the intestines and other internal organs is possible,
• When the brain is damaged, focal necrosis and calcifications occur.

Reactivation of the infectious process is periodically observed. As a rule, this is due to a decrease in the killer function of lymphocytes and/or interferon production. With a sharp suppression of the activity of natural killer cells, rapid spread viruses with blood and lymph into various organs and tissues, generalization of infection and even the development of septic conditions.

In addition, the mutual combination of infections (,) leads to a complication of the course of each of them and a deepening of immunosuppression.

CMV disease is considered a classic “opportunistic” infection, that is, one that is activated only against the background of immunodeficiency. This pathology is HIV-associated (in all patients with HIV infection, an increase in the titer of antibodies to the cytomegaly virus is detected). CMV reactivation may also be evidence of other severe immunodeficiencies - both primary and secondary (especially against the background of chemotherapy or radiation therapy, medication, etc.).

Complications rarely occur in immunocompetent individuals. However, skin rashes, arthritis, hemolytic anemia, and thrombocytopenia are observed. In patients with immunodeficiency, in addition, they can develop. After acute CMV infection, persistence of the infection and its transition to a latent form is possible, which can become more active in the event of immunosuppression. Thus, for patients with immunodeficiency, generalized CMV disease can be fatal.

Treatment of cytomegalovirus infection at home

Treatment for CMV infection is usually carried out in a hospital setting. In each individual case, maintenance therapy is also prescribed. Patients are advised to follow doctor's instructions in all respects. Self-medication is not allowed.

What drugs are used to treat cytomegalovirus infection?

• Valacyclovir - at a dose of 2-3 g per day,
• Valganciclovir - 0.9 g per day (1 or 2 times a day) for 21 days,
• - 0.005-0.01 g/kg body weight per day,
• - 0.2 g per day for 7 days, and then 0.04-0.06 g per day,
• Cidofovir.

Treatment of cytomegalovirus infection with traditional methods

Cytomegalovirus infection is a complex disease that cannot be fully treated by traditional medicine. Folk remedies even more so do not have sufficient potential to destroy the virus that has entered the body. The use of such may be justified at the stage of treatment of pathologies that have developed against the background of CMV infection, which is determined individually. Self-medication is contraindicated; any prescription should be discussed with your doctor.

Treatment of cytomegalovirus infection during pregnancy

Testing for the presence of cytomegolovirus is recommended when planning pregnancy; it is also carried out on pregnant women. Cytomegalovirus is not treated in pregnant women who are diagnosed with it. since the prognosis of such a pregnancy under any circumstances is assessed as unfavorable.

Pregnant women should be monitored during three trimesters and, if necessary (high risk of infection), specific immunoglobulin should be prescribed.

In pregnant women, cytomegaly has various clinical forms. As a rule, women complain about headache, fatigue, whitish-gray discharge from the genitals, enlargement and soreness of the submandibular salivary glands. Some symptoms characteristic of infection occur in combination:

• resistance to therapy,
• hypertonicity of the uterine body,
• vaginitis, colpitis,
• hypertrophy, cysts and premature aging placenta,
• polyhydramnios.

In this case, the following are often observed:

• intimate attachment of chorionic tissue of the placenta,
• premature abruption of a normally located placenta,
• blood loss during childbirth (1% or more of a woman’s body weight),
• latent postpartum endometritis,
• subsequently - menstrual irregularities.

In acute infection, the liver, lungs, and brain can be affected. Basically, CMV infection in pregnant women occurs as a latent infection with periodic exacerbations. When making a diagnosis, the results of laboratory tests are decisive. An auxiliary role is played by the presence of a burdened obstetric history, the threat of termination of a previous pregnancy or premature birth, and the birth of children with developmental defects.

In women with chronic CMV infection, pseudo-erosions of the cervix, endometritis, ovarian dysfunction, extragenital diseases (hepatitis, chronic cholecystitis, pancreatitis, urolithiasis, chronic sinusitis, pneumonia, chronic diseases submandibular and parotid salivary glands). Congenital CMV disease can occur both generalized and local. There are acute, subacute and chronic stages. At the early stages of ontogenesis, the fetus is sensitive to the action of CMV, since the virus exhibits tropism for cells with a high level of metabolic processes. The fetus may die or malformations of internal organs and the brain may form. In this case, the acute and subacute stages of infection occur in utero, children are born with manifestations of chronic cytomegaly. The following vices predominate in them:

• holoprosencephaly,
• microcephaly,
• spina bifida,
• hydrocephalus, coloboma,
• cataract,
• underdevelopment of the eyeball,
• syndactyly,
• cystofibrosis of the pancreas,
• cheiloschisis (cleft lip),
• palatoschis (“cleft palate”) etc.

When infected in the late fetal period or during childbirth, children are born with manifestations of the acute stage of CMV infection, a characteristic feature of which is the generalization of the process. The generalized course often resembles that of hemolytic disease newborns, in particular its prenatal form. The leading symptom is jaundice. Hepatosplenomegaly appears early. High levels of indirect and direct bilirubin are determined in the blood serum, increased activity aminotransferases. Pronounced general signs of intoxication. CMV hepatitis is characterized by damage bile duct, is not clinically manifested by cholestasis, then by the development liver failure and portal hypertension. Changes in the liver are often accompanied by symptoms of meningoencephalitis.

Local manifestations of CMV infection such as respiratory distress syndrome, polychromic anemia (with reticulocytosis, normoblastosis, thrombocytopenia) are also inherent. Hemorrhagic syndrome develops in the form of petechiae, ecchymosis, nosebleeds, umbilical bleeding, and melena. Jaundice due to hepatosplenomegaly, anemia, hemorrhagic syndrome and meningoencephalitis - typical manifestation generalized intrauterine cytomegaly.

Local lesions are characterized by visual impairment up to complete blindness, damage to the digestive canal, liver, endocrine glands(adrenal glands, pituitary gland), as well as the respiratory system (interstitial pneumonia, obstructive bronchitis). When small bronchi and bronchioles are involved in the process, peribronchitis develops; chronic stage- fibrosis and pneumosclerosis.

The prognosis for children with congenital CMV infection is unfavorable, with mortality reaching 60-80%. More than 90% of children who survive have intellectual and developmental delays. speech development, impaired psychomotor reactions, deafness, chorioretinitis with optic nerve atrophy, dental development disorders, diabetes mellitus.

Which doctors should you contact if you have a cytomegalovirus infection?

Diagnosis of CMV is based on a combination of anamnestic and clinical data. In case of exacerbation in immunocompetent persons, it may be localized or resemble infectious mononucleosis with possible manifestations of hepatitis, fever, nausea, vomiting, jaundice, pancreatitis, myocarditis, interstitial pneumonia, which are not severe. Immunocompromised patients always have a generalized nature of the disease with the development of severe pneumonia, myocarditis, encephalitis, aseptic meningitis, thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia, gastritis, hepatitis, retinitis, etc.

Considering polymorphism clinical picture, laboratory results are decisive. IN general analysis In the blood of patients with CMV infection, atypical mononuclear cells can be detected against the background of severe lymphocytosis (up to 90%). In severe cases, especially in children, anemia and thrombocytopenia are characteristic. In a general urine test, specific enlarged cells may appear. During the study of cerebrospinal fluid in patients with lesions of the central nervous system, slight neutrophilic pleocytosis can be detected. With liver damage, aminotransferase activity increases.

The diagnosis of this disease is based on identifying the virus and its traces. To diagnose CMV infection, it is necessary to use at least 2-3 laboratory tests. They examine saliva, bronchial washings, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, blood, breast milk, sectional material. Due to the thermolability of the virus, the material for research must be delivered to the laboratory no later than 4 hours from the moment of collection. For research, virological, cytological, serological methods, and PCR are used.

Identification of specifically changed under the influence of CMV cells is the most accessible method, but its information content is 50-70%. Detection of the virus itself or its DNA in the material using PCR is reliable. Still remains the gold standard virological method. For diagnosis, it is not necessary to isolate the virus itself; it is enough to isolate its antigen using enzyme immunoassay or immunofluorescence reactions. ELISA is widespread because it allows the detection of CMV antigen and specific IgG and IgM.

IgG is of secondary importance, so it should be determined simultaneously with IgM, especially for the diagnosis of primary infection. When identifying IgG analysis their level of avidity (ability to retain antigen) can help differentiate between active and persistent infection. An avidity index of up to 35% indicates acute infection, from 36 to 41% - at the stage of convalescence, more than 42% - for the presence of high-avidity antibodies to CMV in the blood serum. It should be borne in mind that specific antibodies may not be detected in individuals with immunosuppression, during protein starvation, etc. Determination of IgG must be carried out in paired sera with an interval of at least 10 days. The recurrent form of CMV infection is diagnosed when the virus is re-isolated in seropositive individuals.

The diagnosis of intrauterine CMV infection is made during the first 3 weeks of life. The presence of IgM in a newborn before 2 weeks of life indicates an intrauterine infection, and after 2 weeks - an acquired infection.

Treatment of other diseases starting with the letter - c

Treatment of cervicitis

Treatment of liver cirrhosis

Treatment of cystitis

The information is for educational purposes only. Do not self-medicate; For all questions regarding the definition of the disease and methods of its treatment, consult your doctor. EUROLAB is not responsible for the consequences caused by the use of information posted on the portal.

This infectious disease belongs to the herpes family. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is widespread nowadays because... antibodies to it can be found in 10-15% of adolescents and about 40% of adults. Incubation period cytomegalovirus– the infection can last up to 60 days, so it may not be recognized immediately. At first, the disease may not manifest itself in any way, but then, due to hypothermia, which is combined with a general decrease in immunity and stressful conditions, a sudden outbreak of the disease occurs.

Symptoms of cytomegalovirus.

Cytomegalovirus is often confused with acute respiratory viral infections or acute respiratory infections, because their symptoms are very similar:

• increase in temperature;
• headaches;
• weakness.

The consequences of such symptoms can be arthritis, pneumonia, encephalitis, etc. But cytomegalovirus also has characteristic features – increased salivation, there may be damage to the blood vessels of the eyes. In women, cytomegalovirus can infect the cervix and the uterus itself, and in men, the tissue of the testicles and urethra is affected.

In general, a cytomegalovirus infection can affect many organs in the patient’s body, for example, the spleen, liver, adrenal glands, genitourinary system, and can cause skin rash, allergic reaction, itching. As a result of this disease, the body's resistance decreases, so a person often gets sick with colds and bronchitis for no reason. But getting infected with the virus is not so easy. To do this, you need to come into contact with cytomegalovirus several times or come into contact with it for a long time.

Routes of infection with cytomegalovirus.

You can become infected with cytomegalovirus:

• air- by drip or through saliva (when sneezing or kissing, respectively);
• sexually;
• the fetus is infected through the placenta from an infected mother;
• during blood transfusion;
• during organ transplantation;
• when breastfeeding;
• during childbirth.

Cytomegalovirus can be cured, but you need to strictly ensure that there is no mobilization of the virus.

You should monitor the activity of cytomegalovirus:

Pregnant women. Today, statistics show that one in 4 women of childbearing age becomes infected with cytomegalovirus. The most serious complications of this virus occur when the infection is transmitted from a mother to a newborn baby or to an embryo in her belly. If a fetal disease occurs during pregnancy, the child is at high risk severe defeat nervous system. Due to cytomegalovirus, many miscarriages occur in early pregnancy. If a child becomes infected with this infection in the womb, then about 20-30% of sick children subsequently die. If cytomegalovirus is a congenital infection, then it is almost impossible to regulate it.

People who suffer from recurring outbreaks of herpes.

People with immunodeficiency (those undergoing chemotherapy or HIV-infected). It is especially important for them to control the virus because... Their immune system is already suppressed. And if the body also suffers from cytomegalovirus, then it may simply not withstand such a load, and the person will die prematurely.

People with reduced immunity. If there is cytomegalovirus in the body, it usually sleeps and does not cause any harm to the person. But if immunity decreases, a person often catches a cold, his body’s defense system is weakened, he is often in stressful situations, then the virus begins to actively manifest itself.

Treatment of cytomegalovirus.

It is necessary to treat cytomegalovirus comprehensively, fighting not only the cytomegalovirus infection itself, but also increasing the body’s defenses and strengthening the immune system. To date, no drug has yet been found that could completely expel this virus from the human body, i.e. it is completely impossible to cure it. Treatment should be aimed at suppressing the activity of cytomegalovirus in order to bring it into a passive form. Those people who are infected with cytomegalovirus should lead a healthy lifestyle, eat well, and remember to consume required quantity vitamins If the virus is still activated, then you should not self-medicate. Contact your doctor so he can prescribe you a comprehensive antiviral therapy, combined with immunomodulatory drugs.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV)- another domestic horror story about which lately I hear more and more often, so it’s time for another exorcism.

CMV is part of the herpes virus family, that is, it is another type of herpes virus that most of us become infected with during our lives, and it stays with us forever. According to American data, more than 50% of people over 40 years of age are infected with CMV. This virus is secreted by all biological fluids (saliva, blood, secretions, sperm, milk, etc.) so most often infection occurs in childhood or during children’s interactions with each other in groups or from parents through milk or kisses. If in childhood infection was avoided, then the virus awaits us already in the romantic period of life - there kissing and sexual intercourse become the main route of infection. In the vast majority of cases, no symptoms are observed after the virus enters the body. In childhood, the disease can occur under the guise of a common cold; a characteristic manifestation will be drooling, enlargement of the submandibular lymph nodes and plaque on the tongue. In adulthood, such symptoms may not exist. After entering the body, the virus remains in it forever and can periodically appear in various biological fluids, where doctors happily identify it and begin to treat it. Now based exorcism phase

1. CMV is completely safe for the vast majority of people and does not require detection or treatment. CMV is dangerous only for people infected with HIV, during organ transplantation, bone marrow transplantation, oncological diseases and receiving chemotherapy. In other words, for those who have a severely damaged immune system.
2. Everything terrible that you read about this disease on the Internet or your doctor tells you will never happen to you, of course, if you are not infected with HIV or you do not receive a kidney, heart or bone marrow transplant.
3. You do not have any reason to be tested for CMV - that is, you do not need to take a blood test for CMV, much less a PCR smear for CMV. These studies don't make any sense
4. Separate topic: CMV and pregnancy- the most terrible myths and misconceptions live here. So:
   • 50% of women enter pregnancy with a previous CMV infection and 1-4% become infected for the first time during pregnancy.
   • The likelihood of infection of the fetus is higher if a pregnant woman is infected with CMV for the first time during pregnancy, while the risk of infection in the first and second trimester is 30-40%, and in the third - 40-70%
   • In 50-75% of cases, infection of the fetus occurs in pregnant women who have previously had CMV infection due to reactivation of the infection or infection with a new strain.
   • Only one in 150 newborns is diagnosed with CMV infection, and only one in 5 infected newborns develops long-term consequences of CMV
   • Clinical manifestations of CMV in a newborn: premature birth, low weight, microcephaly (small head), abnormalities in the kidneys, liver and spleen.
   • 40-60% of newborns with signs of congenital CMV infection may develop delayed disorders: hearing loss, visual impairment, mental retardation, microcephaly, coordination disorders, muscle weakness, etc.
   • Now very important point- in the West, it is not recommended to conduct studies to identify CVM for pregnant women and women planning pregnancy. This is due for the following reasons: There are only a few drugs for the treatment of CMV infection (ganciclovir and valganciclovir, etc.), these drugs have a lot of severe side effects, so such treatment is only justified in patients with immunodeficiency, when the disease threatens health. As shown above, the likelihood of the fetus developing delayed serious health problems is so low that it is not advisable to terminate the pregnancy if a primary infection is detected or the infection is reactivated during pregnancy. The decision to prescribe treatment to infected newborns is made only after a serious assessment of the benefits and risks. Treating asymptomatic women before pregnancy is not even considered.

The situation in our country is frighteningly illiterate:

• They take a smear for CMV from the vagina - this makes no sense. Yes, from time to time the virus may appear in all biological fluids of a previously infected person, but this is not dangerous either for the pregnancy or for the partner. Let me remind you that in a person without immunodeficiency, CVM is not capable of causing a picture of a serious illness with damage to internal organs
• Before pregnancy, a test is prescribed for TORCH infections, which includes CMV, IgG to CMV is detected and treatment is prescribed. Moreover, this, of course, is not treatment with the heavy drugs described above, but favorite immunomodulators, drugs for herpes simplex and other bullshit. The funny thing is that IgG to CMV reflects the fact of the presence of protective antibodies to this virus, that is, it indicates the fact of a previous infection and the degree to which the body responded to it. Have you assessed the degree of absurdity of the doctors' actions?
• Some doctors insist on terminating the pregnancy if suddenly during pregnancy CMV is detected in smears or a primary infection is diagnosed based on blood tests (the appearance of IgM to CMV in the blood or IgG in those patients who did not have it before pregnancy). This absolutely cannot be done, since the risk of developing serious consequences for the newborn, even in this case, is very low.

To summarize:

1. CVM is not dangerous for you, more than half of the adult population were infected with this virus unnoticed and it did not affect their health in any way
2. You do not need to take tests to detect CMV - neither a smear nor a blood test - there is no point in that. Even if CMV is detected, no treatment is necessary.
3. If you are planning a pregnancy, it makes sense to get tested for TORCH infection. If the results reveal that you do not have IgG to CMV, the only recommendation is to wash your hands more often after interacting with children and generally avoid contact with children, especially if they have signs of a “cold.”
4. It makes no sense to be examined for the detection of CMV during pregnancy, since no treatment for CMV is carried out during pregnancy, since the drugs have many severe side effects, and the fact of detection of acute CMV infection is not an indication for termination of pregnancy.
5. Testing for CMV in newborns is carried out only if there is a suspicion of intrauterine infection, and the decision to prescribe treatment is made individually.