Saliva analysis for CMV in a child. Cytomegalovirus in a child: symptoms and treatment. How does congenital CMVI proceed?

Cytomegalovirus infection (in other words, inclusion disease, cytomegaly) develops in humans when human herpesvirus type 5 enters the body.

For children, this infection poses the greatest danger. In terms of teratogenic effects on the fetus, it ranks second after rubella. In severe cases, the herpesvirus causes not only serious pathologies in a developing person, but also leads to spontaneous abortion, fetal cardiac arrest, and stillbirth.

One percent of newborns in developed countries are infected with CMV. In developing countries, 4.5% of newborns have.

It is believed that the intensity is due to socio-economic and living conditions, iatrogenic interference, environmental conditions.

How is CMV transmitted to babies?

Babies can become infected with this virus both from a seropositive mother and from other persons. There are several ways to infect a child with CMV in the mother:

• through the placenta;
• through infected birth canals;
• through breast milk;
• through saliva (at).

In addition, the strain of herpesvirus is transmitted by contact-household (dishes, toys, hygiene products) and airborne droplets. Therefore, there is a high probability of infection from strangers, including from other children.

Clinical manifestations

In case of contact with a child's body, it does not immediately make itself felt. The incubation period can range from 15 days to several months. At this time, the child is an active carrier of the virus.

Signs of infection can be:

• increased body temperature;
• inflammation and enlargement of the salivary glands;
• sore throat;
• redness of the nasopharynx;
• increase in palatine tonsils;
• poor appetite, weight loss, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea;
• jaundice, signs of hepatic disorders.

In severe cases, symptoms of pneumonia are likely to appear. The occurrence of a mononucleosis-like syndrome is observed in blood recipients. The generalized form of acquired herpes virus is rare.

Complications in children with CMV

The disease poses a serious danger to babies whose infection occurred in the prenatal period or up to a year. The acute asymptomatic course of cytomegaly in infancy can cause neurological pathologies in children, brain damage, hearing and vision loss, strabismus, anorexia, and motor dysfunction.

Babies over the age of one year tolerate cytomegalovirus infection more easily. The disease is limited to manifestations characteristic of respiratory diseases. The older the children, the faster they cope with the virus.

Diagnosis of infection

Since the symptoms of cytomegaly are similar to SARS, and some forms even have an asymptomatic course, it is difficult to diagnose it. If you suspect you should contact your pediatrician. will collect an anamnesis, perform an examination and prescribe laboratory or instrumental studies.

In cases where the disease is complicated, it may be necessary to consult other specialists (for example, a neurologist, urologist, ophthalmologist, immunologist, gastroenterologist, otolaryngologist).

General clinical examination methods

Laboratory methods for diagnosing CMV in children include a biochemical blood test, a general urine test. They allow you to determine the amount of bilirubin and protein, to establish the presence of anemia, to analyze the condition of the kidneys and liver.

In cases of development of heart disease, the child is given an ECG. In case of disorders in the central nervous system and to assess the condition of internal organs, ultrasound, MRI or CT is used. Instrumental and laboratory methods allow to identify pathologies in the urinary, reproductive, respiratory and other systems, to diagnose concomitant diseases.

Immediate diagnosis of CMV

There are several options for studying the biomaterial of children in order to identify the causative agent of the infection. For analysis in babies under the age of three weeks, cerebrospinal fluid, urine, saliva.

Using the PCR method or DNA hybridization, the presence of the herpes virus and its antigens is established. A positive result occurs in the case of an active or latent infection.

Examinations should not be neglected, since infection is fraught with the birth of a child with deformities, microcephaly, and severe lesions of the central nervous system.

Doctor Maria Nikolaeva

Cytomegalovirus infection is one of those infections that a person encounters at an early age. It is caused by a virus from the herpes family, under the influence of which specific changes occur in all tissues and organs. Cytomegalovirus in children is congenital and acquired - the clinical picture of these forms varies significantly.

If antibodies to cytomegalovirus are found in a child’s blood test, this means that he was infected with this infection. Often the disease is asymptomatic, so the moment of infection is difficult to establish.

The causative agent after penetration into the body is introduced into the cells. This causes the development of the inflammatory process and dysfunction of the affected organ. Cytomegalovirus causes general intoxication, disrupts the process of blood clotting, and suppresses the work of the adrenal cortex. The main site of cytomegalovirus localization is the salivary glands. In the blood, the pathogen infects lymphocytes and monocytes.

The nature of the course of the disease depends on several factors:

• age;
• the state of the immune status of the child;
• the presence of comorbidities.

Often cytomegalovirus is fixed in the cells and takes a dormant state without causing any symptoms. Activation of the virus occurs when favorable conditions arise for it - first of all, this is a decrease in the body's resistance. This will determine how to treat cytomegalovirus infection in children.

Some useful facts about CMVI:

• an inactive virus that is in the cells is not amenable to drug treatment, a person remains its carrier forever;
• in older children, cytomegalovirus causes mild acute respiratory infections;
• most dangerous in newborns and children with reduced immunity;
• diagnosis of inactive CMVI is rather complicated;
• low immunity contributes to the generalization of the infectious process.

The detection of CMV in children is not always an indication for emergency treatment. Therapy is prescribed only under the condition of obvious clinical symptoms.

Cytomegalovirus detected - what to do?

Causes of the disease in children

The cause of the disease is infection with a pathogen called cytomegalovirus. It is a member of the herpesvirus family. The virus is widespread throughout the world, easily transmitted between people. Therefore, a person becomes infected with an infection in the first years of life. The most sensitive to cytomegalovirus fetus during fetal development and newborns.

Cytomegalovirus in a child appears upon contact with any biological fluids. The spread of the virus occurs by airborne droplets and contact. You can also become infected through a transfusion of infected blood. In utero, the fetus becomes infected when the virus passes through the placenta, or during childbirth. Infection with cytomegalovirus in children under one year old occurs through breast milk. The causative agent is very stable in the environment. It dies under the influence of high temperatures or freezing, it is sensitive to alcohol.

How does cytomegalovirus manifest itself

The course of cytomegalovirus infection in a child is cyclic - the incubation period, the peak, the recovery period. The infection can be localized and generalized, congenital and acquired. Also, an infectious disease in a child is often asymptomatic. Clinically, cytomegalovirus manifests itself in 30-40% of children.

The incubation period of cytomegalovirus infection is variable - from 15 days to 3 months. During this period, there are no signs of illness, but the baby is already a source of cytomegalovirus infection.

Symptoms of cytomegalovirus

Congenital and acquired CMVI in children - what's the difference?

The difference between congenital and acquired forms of CMVI in children is in the nature of the course. The congenital form of the disease proceeds in a generalized manner. Acquired cytomegalovirus is characterized by damage to one of the body systems, less often it is generalized. CMV is dangerous for the baby most of all in a generalized form.

congenital

Congenital cytomegaly is characterized by intrauterine infection of the fetus. Infection occurs through the placenta in acute or chronic CMVI in the mother. The virus is localized in the salivary glands of the fetus. Here it multiplies, enters the blood and causes a generalized process. Congenital disease manifests itself in 0.3-3% of newborns. The risk of fetal CMV infection from a sick mother is 30-40%.

If the infection occurred in the first trimester of pregnancy, the outcome is fetal death and spontaneous miscarriage. Less commonly, the fetus remains viable, but it develops numerous malformations:

• central nervous system- develops microcephaly (underdevelopment of the brain) or hydrocephalus (accumulation of fluid in the brain tissue);
• the cardiovascular system- various congenital heart defects;
• gastrointestinal tract- underdevelopment of the liver, intestines.

If the infection occurred in the second half of pregnancy, the baby is born without malformations. Symptoms of the disease in this case:

• jaundice - persists for two months;
• enlargement of the liver and spleen;
• pneumonia;
• intestinal inflammation.

A child is born prematurely, with low body weight. There is an inhibition of reflexes, the processes of sucking and swallowing. The condition of the baby with congenital cytomegalovirus infection is severe. There is persistent fever, lack of appetite. The child is lethargic, grows poorly and hardly gains weight. Darkening of urine, light liquid stools are observed. Point hemorrhages appear on the skin.

The acute course of cytomegalovirus disease leads to the death of the baby within a few weeks.

The most common manifestations of congenital CMVI:

• hemorrhagic rash - 76%;
• yellowness of the skin - 67%;
• enlargement of the liver and spleen - 60%;
• underdevelopment of the brain - 52%;
• low body weight - 48%;
• hepatitis - 20%;
• encephalitis - 15%;
• damage to the optic nerve - 12%.

Table. Manifestations of CMVI depending on the period of intrauterine infection.

The most common manifestation of CMVI in children is hepatitis. It occurs in icteric or anicteric forms. The latter is characterized by poor clinical symptoms, the child's condition is satisfactory. In the icteric form, hepatosplenomegaly, moderate staining of the skin, dark urine and light feces are noted.

Rarely, the outcome of hepatitis is the formation of biliary cirrhosis of the liver, from which children die in the second year of life.

Pneumonia ranks second after hepatitis. It is characterized by an increase in body temperature, cough with sputum. Children develop shortness of breath on exertion and at rest. A feature of pneumonia caused by cytomegalovirus is a protracted course.

Retinitis is damage to the optic nerve by cytomegalovirus. It is characterized by decreased vision, flies and color spots before the eyes. The baby has photophobia, lacrimation.

Sialoadenitis is a lesion of the salivary glands. Manifested by fever, pain in the cheeks and ears, difficulty swallowing.

Acquired

Infection of an infant occurs at the time of childbirth, or in the following days and months through contact with a sick person or a virus carrier. Generalization of the process is very rare. The disease in this case proceeds non-specifically - a rise in temperature, an increase in lymph nodes, signs of inflammation of the tonsils. Perhaps a disorder of the stool, pain in the abdomen. Appetite worsens, increased salivation is noted.

More often there is a localized form of infection - with the defeat of any one system of the body:

• respiratory - the development of severe pneumonia (cough, shortness of breath, copious sputum);
• intestinal damage by cytomegalovirus - diarrhea, nausea, vomiting;
• urinary system - back pain, changes in urinalysis.

The disease lasts a long time, accompanied by high fever. The diagnosis is quite difficult to make.

In children of the first three years life, several clinical variants of the course of the disease are possible:

• sialadenitis - damage to the salivary glands;
• interstitial pneumonia;
• acute nephritis - kidney damage;
• acute intestinal infection;
• hepatitis;
• encephalitis with damage to the optic nerve, convulsive syndrome.

In older children, with already formed immunity, CMVI proceeds as an acute respiratory disease with a mild course:

• moderate temperature increase;
• malaise;
• swollen lymph nodes in the neck;
• sore throat.

Recovery occurs within 7-10 days without the development of complications.

If the infection occurred through breast milk, the baby will get sick only with a latent form of the infection, which is mild. This is due to the fact that with milk, children also receive a specific immunoglobulin that protects them from viral and bacterial infections.

Children attending organized children's institutions receive cytomegalovirus through saliva. This is usually implemented by airborne droplets.

Diagnostics

The diagnosis is made on the basis of the clinical picture, epidemiological history, and laboratory results. Since the clinical picture is nonspecific and similar to many other diseases, mandatory laboratory diagnostics are required to confirm CMVI.

The diagnosis is considered confirmed if either the virus itself or antibodies to it were found in any biological fluids of the baby. Cytomegalovirus cells are found in the urine, saliva, sputum, gastric lavage of the child. The most effective diagnostic method is PCR (polymerase chain reaction) - this method allows you to detect the genetic material of the virus in the test fluid.

If congenital CMVI is suspected, the detection of the virus or the analysis for antibodies to it in the mother of the child is of diagnostic importance.

After entering the body, it begins to actively multiply and settles in nerve cells.

The manifestation of symptoms occurs only during a period of weakened immunity, while in healthy children the presence of CMV in the body is not dangerous.

Ways of infection

The specificity of CMV is that it is found in almost all body fluids (blood, urine, saliva, sputum, sweat, vaginal mucus, semen), so it is very easy for a small unprotected organism to become infected. Ways of transmission of herpes type 5:

• antenatal - transplacental from mother to fetus;
• intranatal - from mother to child during passage through the birth canal;
• postnatal - by airborne droplets or by contact, with blood transfusion, through the mother's breast milk.

Transplacental infection is considered the most dangerous, since the virus penetrates into the amniotic fluid and affects almost all organs and systems of the fetal body.

Symptoms when infected

• fever, chills;
• runny nose;
• cough;
• enlarged lymph nodes;
• muscle and headache;
• fast fatiguability;
• enlargement of the palatine and pharyngeal tonsils.

Such symptoms can last from 2 weeks to several months and do not require hospitalization and specific treatment.

Features of the course in children of different age groups

The most severe course of cytomegalovirus infection in children is observed in the congenital form of the disease. The immune system in newborns is very weak, so the virus can easily infect the baby's body and cause disorders and defects that will remain for life.

In the postpartum period, infection most often occurs from parents and is asymptomatic. Most become carriers of CMV between the ages of 2 and 6, when they begin to have more contact with other children and go to preschool. The course of the disease during this period is more reminiscent of ARVI, and only if symptoms persist for a long time, a suspicion of type 5 herpes may arise.

After 6-7 years, the immune system finally stabilizes and can actively resist various infections. Primary infection during this period is often asymptomatic, after which the virus remains in the body in a "sleeping" form.

Why is CMV dangerous for children

For a healthy child with strong immunity, type 5 herpes is not dangerous, the virus simply lives in the body and does not interfere with its carrier. CMV is dangerous for children with a congenital form of the infection, a weakened immune system or immunodeficiency.

Complications

Children with an asymptomatic course of congenital infection and active CMV in the blood are most susceptible to the development of complications. A few months after birth, they may experience the following complications:

• convulsions;
• violation of motor activity;
• insufficient body weight;
• damage to the heart and liver;
• micro or hydrocephalus.

If the virus has penetrated the vital systems of the body, then in the first 10 years of life, serious disorders may occur:

• mental retardation;
• partial or complete deafness and blindness;
• violation of the formation of teeth;
• speech disorder;
• hepatitis;
• neuromuscular disorders;
• poor development of the cardiovascular system.

The acquired form of the infection does not give similar complications in children with strong immunity. If the body is weakened, then the virus can affect the lungs, liver, heart and kidneys, and the disease itself acquires a chronic relapsing character.

The well-known doctor Komarovsky considers CMV not dangerous for children, except for cases of congenital infection, which can cause. carried out and, but the main method of combating type 5 herpes is to maintain the normal immunity of a pregnant woman.

Under normal conditions, the expectant mother's immune system is able to produce enough antibodies that will protect both her and the baby.

Diagnostic measures

Diagnosis cannot be based solely on the clinical picture of the disease, since in many cases the infection is asymptomatic

General clinical examination methods

An examination for CMV begins with an examination by a doctor who will conduct a differential diagnosis with similar diseases (rubella, pneumonia, etc.) and prescribe the following laboratory tests:

• general ;
• general urine analysis;
• cytoscopy of urine or saliva;
• virological culture from a urine or throat sample.

General analyzes of urine and blood will show the intensity of the inflammatory process in the body, cytoscopy - the presence of cells of a characteristic giant size in the samples under study, and the inoculation of a culture of viruses will tell about their activity.

Serological examination methods

To clarify the diagnosis, determine the infection and the degree of CMV activity, serological studies are carried out. These include:

1. ELISA ()- detection of protective antibodies Ig G and Ig M in the blood serum. The presence of both immunoglobulins indicates the presence of immunity to the virus, the presence of Ig M - about the primary infection, and Ig G - about the virus carrier. If, upon re-analysis, the amount of Ig G is increased, this indicates the activation of herpes. The absence of protective antibodies indicates that CMV is not detected in the blood.
2. PCR (polymerase chain reaction)– examination of various biomaterials of the patient (blood, urine, saliva) for the presence of herpes type 5 DNA. Allows you to determine the level of reproduction of the virus in the body.

Allows you to detect CMV even with an asymptomatic infection, therefore it plays an important role in the diagnosis of the congenital form of the disease.

Treatment Methods

Like all CMV, there is no cure. Therefore, all therapeutic actions are aimed at reducing the activity of the virus, increasing the body's immune defenses and eliminating concomitant diseases. Specific treatment of type 5 herpes is carried out strictly under supervision in the congenital form of the disease and the severe course of the acquired infection.

Antiviral specific treatment

In children, antiviral drugs (Ganciclovir, Cytoven,) and are used to combat. The main emphasis is on increasing the activity of the immune system, since many antiviral drugs are very toxic to the child's body.

Syndromic treatment

If a child has serious disorders in the lungs, liver, heart or other systems, additional treatment is prescribed, which is aimed at eliminating pathologies. To alleviate the manifestations of the acquired form, symptomatic treatment can be prescribed to reduce the symptoms of intoxication: antipyretics, vasoconstrictor drops from the common cold, heavy drinking and cough syrups.

Prevention methods

The main way to prevent the congenital form of cytomegalovirus infection is to plan conception and maintain immunity in pregnant women. The expectant mother should take care of her health, undergo routine examinations, avoid close contact with unfamiliar people and carefully observe the rules of personal hygiene.

Prevention of the acquired form of herpes should be carried out by parents from the moment the child is born. Complete care, constant strengthening of immunity and hardening of the child's body is the best way to effectively combat CMV.

Cytomegalovirus infection is considered one of the most common diseases associated with the penetration of a viral infection into a child's body. According to statistics, it is diagnosed in more than half of minors. In most cases, cytomegalovirus in children is asymptomatic and does not bring much harm to health.

If the baby's immunity is weakened or not yet fully formed, then the consequences can be severe. Therefore, each parent needs to remember the features of this disease and the sequence of its treatment.

What is a virus

Cytomegalovirus infection in children is caused by the penetration into the blood of a special virus, which belongs to the group of herpes viruses. You won't be able to get rid of it forever. Even after full therapy, it does not leave the body, but exists in a latent state. The disease in a latent form is diagnosed in 80% of people. In this case, infection occurs in early childhood or during pregnancy of a woman.

After the virus enters the baby's blood, it immediately rushes to the cells of the salivary glands. It is in this area that its localization is most often detected. The disease affects various organs and systems of the body: the respiratory tract, liver, brain, gastrointestinal tract.

Cytomegalovirus has the ability to integrate its DNA into the nucleus of a cell in the human body. This leads to the formation of new hazardous particles. Subsequently, they grow significantly. This is where the name cytomegaly comes from, which can be translated as a giant cell.

The disease is especially dangerous for children with insufficiently strong immunity. The risk group includes:

• Premature newborns.
• Children with congenital pathologies of development.
• Children with HIV infection.
• Children suffering from chronic diseases, such as diabetes, glomerulonephritis.

If a child with a strong immune system becomes infected, then nothing terrible happens. The disease does not show any symptoms.

How infection occurs

In the progression of cytomegalovirus in children, the path of infection penetration into the body is important. There are three main ways of infection:

• Intranatal. The infection enters the baby's body during its passage through the birth canal. If the mother has the virus in the active phase, then in 5% of cases it is transmitted to the child during delivery.
• Antenatal. Cytomegalovirus crosses the placental barrier while the baby is in the womb. With this course of events, the most serious consequences for the health of the child are observed. The virus lives in the amniotic fluid of an infected mother. It affects the digestive and respiratory systems of the fetus. If infection occurs in the first two trimesters, then there is a high probability of the appearance of congenital pathologies of the baby or miscarriage.
• Postnatal. Children become infected after birth. A baby can become infected through direct contact with an infected person. Transmission of the disease is possible with the milk of a sick mother. At a later age, cytomegalovirus in a child occurs upon contact with saliva, blood and other biological secretions of infected people. This situation often occurs in kindergarten, at school and other crowded places.

In adult children, compliance with the rules of individual hygiene plays an important role in maintaining health. Parents should teach the child to wash their hands as often as possible, not to put various objects into their mouths, and not to use other people's hygiene devices.

Normal course of the disease

Cytomegalovirus is not as scary as it might seem. If the child's immune system is healthy, then the disease does no harm. It doesn't show itself. In rare cases, symptoms similar to the course of SARS are observed. The following symptoms appear:

• Pain in the muscles.
• Headache.
• The child quickly becomes tired, lethargic and drowsy.
• Chills appear.
• Runny nose.
• Lymph nodes increase in size.
• Increased salivation.
• A whitish coating may appear on the tongue and gums.

There are no dangers associated with this condition. After a couple of weeks, the symptoms of cytomegalovirus in children completely disappear. Simple antiviral drugs will help speed up the process, allowing you to transfer cytomegalovirus to a passive stage. Therapy with medicines for an infant should be carried out under the strict supervision of a specialist. Such carriage of the infection lasts until the end of life.

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The main symptoms and modern treatment of cytomegalovirus in women

What could be the symptoms

Symptoms and treatment are determined by the way the infection enters the body. With a congenital disease that was formed during the intrauterine development of the fetus, the following symptoms appear: hearing impairment, neurological abnormalities, decreased visual acuity, problems with the nervous system.

The manifestation of the virus immediately after birth is determined by the signs:

• Impaired vision and hearing.
• Eruptions on the skin.
• Seizures.
• The liver increases in size. The spleen also changes.
• Jaundice begins to appear.
• The child lags behind in development compared to his peers.

The cytomegalovirus virus in older children may not be diagnosed. If the child's immunity is weakened, then negative symptoms begin to appear:

• Pain in the joints.
• Intense headaches.
• Increase in body temperature.
• Rapid fatigue, drowsiness, loss of working capacity.

Symptoms may appear all at once or only some.

Diagnostic measures

Acquired and congenital cytomegalovirus can be accurately diagnosed only after a set of measures. A key role is played by laboratory tests of samples of biological material taken from a child. Most often, doctors use the following methods:

• Cultural. It consists in the isolation of cytomegalovirus from human cells. This method is considered the most accurate. It allows not only to detect the presence of the virus, but also to evaluate its activity. The only drawback of the technique is its duration. All studies take about two weeks.
• Cytoscopic. Using this method, enlarged cells are detected in the patient's saliva. A urine sample may also be used for research. This method is considered uninformative, therefore it is used infrequently. It is not always possible to detect cells in urine.
• Linked immunosorbent assay. The method allows to detect the presence of immunoglobulins M in the blood. Their presence in an infant indicates the initial stage of infection. In case of detection of immunoglobulins G, additional studies are prescribed. If there is an increase in the number of antibody titers, then we can talk about the progression of cytomegalovirus.
• Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Considered the fastest. The result is considered as accurate as possible. Using the polymerase chain reaction, it is possible to detect the presence of DNA of a pathogenic virus. It is also possible to estimate the rate of its reproduction.
• X-ray examination of the chest. In the pictures, the attending physician will be able to consider signs of pneumonia that has appeared.
• Ultrasound of the abdominal organs. With CMV in children, during the study, the doctor determines the condition of the liver and spleen. Their increase in volume testifies in favor of the presence of cytomegalovirus. Children up to a year have their own characteristics of the location of the liver.
• MRI of the brain. With the development of the disease, the focus of inflammation will be detected in the pictures.

If a virus is detected during the study, the doctor decides how to treat cytomegalovirus. Parents must strictly adhere to all recommendations of a specialist.

Proper Treatment

For the treatment of cytomegalovirus in children, an integrated approach is used. Experts recommend the combined use of antiviral and immunomodulatory drugs. This therapy is considered safe for children over 3 years of age. In children under one year old, treatment is also carried out with the help of medications, but their dosage is calculated in a special way.

According to the recommendations of experienced specialists, including Dr. Komarovsky, the treatment of cytomegalovirus infection in children is carried out using the following drugs:

• Cycloferon, Viferon, Laferon and other analogues. They include interferon.
• Among immunomodulating agents, Imunofan, Ribomunil, Timogen are the most effective.
• Preparations of specific immunoglobulins. This group includes Neocytotec, Cytoga, Megalotect.
• Medicines, which include non-specific immunoglobulins: Intraglobin, Sandoglobulin.

If the doctor has discovered a cytomegalovirus infection in a newborn that has entered the body after birth, then a symptomatic treatment regimen can also be used. It includes the use of the following drugs:

• Antibacterial agents. They are used only if an inflammatory process is found.
• Antipyretic drugs. For one-year-old babies, such funds must be carefully dosed. It is best to use drugs that are available in the form of suppositories.
• Hepatoprotectors. Together with CMV, a newborn may develop hepatitis. With the help of hepatoprotectors, liver cells are protected from damage.
• Vitamin and mineral complexes. They are designed to support the body's immune system.

Almost all age categories of people fall into the risk zone of infection with cytomegalovirus infection.

Cytomegalovirus in children can lead to severe complications, especially when it comes to babies. But the older the child becomes, the less dangerous it is for him to encounter the virus.

Cytomegalovirus is a type of herpes. What they are absolutely similar in is that they “occupy” a person forever. Once in the body, pathogens remain there for all the remaining years. As long as they “doze”, this does not affect health in any way.

Many people, having from birth or from early childhood such a “delayed-action mine” inside themselves, do not know what the consequences of this virus are.

And all thanks to a healthy lifestyle and strong immunity.

Ways of infection

Cytomegalovirus infection spreads by contact, through all secretions (saliva, urine, cough sputum, mother's milk and seminal fluid).

It is also transmitted through the blood, so even an unborn child can become infected from its own mother.

In total, there are three most common types of infection in the youngest children:

1. Intrauterine.
2. During the passage of the birth canal.
3. Through mother's milk while feeding.

The first of them, when the infection penetrates into the child's body that has not yet formed and does not have any protective barrier through the placenta, is fraught with the most serious consequences.

A child who has a congenital cytomegalovirus infection may have multiple developmental abnormalities, including:

• reduced vision and hearing;
• physical underdevelopment;
• neurological problems.

Therefore, doctors pay close attention to the condition of the expectant mother. A pregnant woman should take all measures not to get infected.

Nursing mothers should be just as careful.

Grown up kids attending nurseries and kindergartens can also catch this virus, but at their age it is not so dangerous.

Healthy pregnancy - healthy baby

It is no coincidence that pregnant women are required to be tested for cytomegalovirus, since an infection from the mother's body can easily be transmitted to a newborn baby.

The most dangerous thing is if a woman becomes infected for the first time during pregnancy. Then her immunity simply cannot cope with the virus, and the disease can manifest itself in an acute form, endangering the life of the mother and the unborn baby.

It should be remembered that CMV infection during pregnancy can also occur sexually. Therefore, it is better to take precautions: use condoms.

If pregnancy is only planned, a woman must be screened in advance for the presence of antibodies of the virus, indicating that she has already had this infection.

If the result is negative, it is necessary at all costs to prevent accidental infection during this crucial period.

Different ages, different symptoms

Depending on how old (or months, days) the sick child is, the symptoms of cytomegalovirus infection manifest themselves in different forms.

In newborns, after intrauterine infection, these signs may be:

• jaundice;
• rash;
• convulsions;
• enlarged liver and spleen.

In infants who acquire the virus through mother's milk, the development of infection may be associated with pneumonia and hepatitis.

And in older children, the virus may not manifest itself in any way, or it can do it indirectly, in the form of:

• rapid fatigue;
• feeling of ache in the joints;
• headache;
• body temperature above normal.

The indicated symptomatology can be observed both “in its entirety”, and only its individual points.

In immunocompromised children, the signs of infection will be much more pronounced than in their more healthy peers.

If for a strong child's body, an infection transferred in a mild form is even "useful" in some way (after it the child acquires stable protection against CMV for all subsequent years), then in weak children the disease can cause serious complications.

Asymptomatic course

deformity of the skull due to the influence of cytomegalovirus

When schoolchildren or preschoolers do not have obvious signs of cytomegalovirus infection, even in the presence of an active virus, this is an indicator of good body resistance.

But with babies, things are different. A latent infection, about which no one suspected for several months, one day suddenly “splashes” out. CMVI in children of such a tender age can manifest itself in the form of severe convulsions, weight loss, skull deformity, and impaired motor activity.

After a few years, these guys may be diagnosed with signs of mental retardation, visual impairment, or heart problems.

The causes of severe pathologies are that cytomegalovirus infection in newborns was not cured in a timely manner.

How the disease progresses in the smallest

Cytomegalovirus in children does not make itself felt immediately after it enters the body. It can "get used to" for weeks and only then begin its malicious activity.

In an infant, this infection will primarily affect the liver. The icteric manifestations on the face of an infant can last up to six months, and he himself will be extremely restless, with poor appetite and low weight gain.

If the virus affects the blood, it will show up in bruises and rashes on the skin, and there may be blood particles in the stool and urine. And when the amount of urine excreted decreases sharply, an “attack” on the kidneys began.

Convulsions, blurred eyes, dropsy of the head - all these are manifestations of CMV in newborns. Due to the fact that the development of infection at this age is very difficult and can lead to serious consequences, you should immediately consult a doctor at the first disturbing symptoms.

The consequences of cytomegalovirus, not cured in a newborn, can lead to disability or even death of the child.

Not to be confused with a cold!

Does the child have a severe cough, stuffy nose and fever? Most parents, without hesitation, will put "their diagnosis": an acute respiratory viral infection. Although in fact, cytomegalovirus can act here.

In addition to the symptoms listed above, it causes:

• enlarged lymph nodes;
• white plaque in the mouth and inflamed tonsils;
• chills and sometimes rash;
• muscle pain;
• general weakness.

Since the infection in children over the age of one is already clearly acquired, and not congenital, it does not threaten anything especially terrible.

According to the degree of intensity, the disease can occur in several forms.

Namely:

1. Mild, in which the child can recover, even without treatment.
2. Medium severity. The virus "affects" the internal organs, but these lesions are reversible.
3. Severe, with serious violations of the functioning of internal organs. With an acquired infection, this form is quite rare.

With timely proper treatment with the disease, it will be possible to say goodbye in a couple of weeks. Only in exceptional cases, some of its manifestations (inflammation of the lymph nodes, tonsils) may linger for 2-3 months, and then it will be necessary to seek medical help again.

"Identify" the virus

There are several laboratory methods for the diagnosis of cytomegalovirus infection.

Such as:

1. Blood test for antibodies to CMV.
2. Complete blood count (with the development of the disease, it will indicate reduced levels of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets).
3. Analysis of urine and saliva for virus cells.
4. A biochemical blood test that examines immunoenzymes and determines the concentration of urea and creatinine.

In the presence of cytomegalovirus in the urine of a child taken for analysis, a sediment of a peculiar type is formed - cells with the so-called "owl's eye".

A sick child may also be referred for a fluoroscopic examination of the chest, an ultrasound examination of the head or abdominal cavity, based on which zone the virus has chosen as the “territory of the lesion”. You may also need to consult an ophthalmologist.

How is the treatment

How long and difficult the treatment of cytomegalovirus infection in children will be depends on the severity of the disease. Scientists have not yet created a drug that “cracks down” on CMV, and known antiviral drugs in the fight against it are not particularly effective. The emphasis in therapy is on strengthening the body's defenses of the child himself.

Treatment is carried out by infectious disease specialists and pediatricians. But if necessary, specialists in neurology, ophthalmology, urology and others come to their aid.

To cure cytomegalovirus in a newborn with a congenital or complicated form of infection, immunoglobulin preparations are used, which are harmless to children of any age. Antiviral agents active against herpes are used only in the most severe cases.

The disease is acquired, occurring without symptoms in the smallest, does not require treatment.

For children over three years old with a mild form of the disease, only the simplest means are taken - to lower the temperature or narrow the vessels in the nose, provide rest and drink frequently enough. Otherwise, they give the body the opportunity to cope with the virus itself.

In more serious cases, a special treatment is prescribed for the onset of inflammatory processes or lesions of certain organs.

When immunity is deficient

Cytomegalovirus infection in children with severely reduced immunity is truly dangerous. If left untreated, it can cause complications that result in death or permanent disability.

By the way, according to the statistics of the World Health Association, the mortality rate from CMV ranks second in the world among all viral diseases.

With especially serious lesions, children with immunodeficiency affected by this infection are even transplanted with internal organs and bone marrow. Each such case is considered separately and requires specific, individual therapy.

With any form of manifestation of cytomegaly, it should be remembered that it is possible to treat diseases of such a plan only under the supervision of a doctor, to use drugs strictly for their intended purpose. Using the advice of "knowledgeable" friends and acquaintances is simply unacceptable.

medicinal herbs against the virus

Is it possible to cure a cytomegalovirus infection in a child with traditional medicine? Partly, yes. It will not be possible to completely destroy the virus in the child's body with their help, but healing herbs will help to strengthen its defenses for an effective independent fight.

Here are some recipes for such medical fees:

1. Combine flax seed with crushed raspberry leaves, marshmallow and cinquefoil roots, taken in equal parts, and half of elecampane roots. Pour boiling water over the mixture (half a liter of water per two tablespoons of the collection) and, placing it in an airtight container, leave overnight in a warm place.
2. Chopped herbs (chamomile, string, as well as alder cones, licorice root, kopeechnik and leuzea), taken in equal proportions, pour 500 ml of boiled water (two tablespoons of the mixture). Leave for 10 hours.

Medicinal infusions for school-age children can be given 1/6 cup three times a day. But before starting such treatment, be sure to consult your doctor so that there are no side effects.

Preventive measures

Cytomegalovirus in a child in the body is not yet a disease. Most of us have this "intruder" inside us. The main thing is not to let him become active and start his malicious activities. Such a deterrent function is performed by human immunity, and the stronger it is, the more reliably we and our children are protected from infection.

What can be done to strengthen the defenses of the child's body? Doctors advise to observe such measures:

• Make sure that the child adheres to the correct daily routine, sleeps well and is more often in the fresh air.
• The diet should be balanced and rich in vegetables and fruits.
• Offer children herbal teas, give them multivitamins.
• Since CMV is spread by contact, teach your child to wash their hands thoroughly after returning from the street and after each visit to a public place.

If the child constantly has a cold, consult a doctor. Perhaps it is worth doing an analysis for cytomegalovirus, to make sure that this is not the reason.