Should I be afraid of the presence of cytomegalovirus in the body of a child? Causes, symptoms and treatment of cytomegalovirus infection in children CMV virus in children symptoms

A person is faced with viral diseases throughout his life, many of them are pronounced, while others are almost asymptomatic, but dangerous complications. The latter also includes cytomegalovirus, which is especially dangerous for children. Therefore, it is important for parents to know how to recognize this infection, because timely diagnosis and treatment can save the baby from serious consequences.

What is cytomegalovirus

Cytomegalovirus was discovered in 1956 by Margaret Gladys Smith.

Cytomegalovirus is a type 5 human virus of the herpes family Herpesviridae. At the end of the 18th century, a case of pathologically large cells was found in the organs of a child’s corpse, presumably these were tissues affected by cytomegalovirus. A full-fledged mature particle of this virus is 180–300 nm; under the glasses of magnifying devices, it looks much larger and more convex than the rest. Officially, the disease and its causative agent were isolated only in 1956.

About 95% of the world's population is infected with cytomegalovirus: 10–15% of them are children under 14 years of age.

The causative agent likes to sit in the salivary glands of a person, causing their inflammation, which is often the only symptom of infection. But in an infected person, cytomegalovirus (hereinafter referred to as CMV) is found in all biological fluids:

sperm;
blood;
tears;
secret of the cervix and vagina;
saliva
breast milk;
mucus of the nasopharynx;
faeces;
cerebrospinal fluid.

From this "geography" it can be seen that the virus is distributed throughout the human body, in the event of a sharp decrease in immunity, it begins to harm any organ or the whole system. Therefore, the virus is sometimes disguised as a sore throat, flu, or even deafness, and doctors treat the problem locally without identifying it. It is only now that medicine is beginning to suggest that CMV is at the root of many health problems in both adults and children. Although with the right lifestyle, the absence of stress, the virus may not detect itself in any way, a person simply becomes its carrier for life.

Of course, there are groups of people for whom CMV is extremely dangerous - these are children in the womb and children of an early period of life. Cytomegalovirus belongs to a group of viruses that can penetrate the protective filter of the placenta and cause irreparable harm to the health of the embryo. And in newborn children, by the age of six months, the disintegration of maternal antibodies (reserves of maternal immunity) occurs, their own immunity is finally formed in them only by the age of 1 year. Although protective cells still continue to come with mother's milk, they are not enough to fully repel the attack of the virus. Due to the immaturity of the immune system, in both cases, the virus cells, entering the bloodstream, turn into dominant invaders. CMV is activated and begins its destructive effect on a small organism.

Ways of infection

Antenatal (intrauterine) infection, although the most dangerous, is quite rare. If CMV got into the body of the future mother relatively long before conception, then her immunity has already accumulated a large number of antibodies, and nothing threatens the baby's health. If the mother first became infected with it during the course of pregnancy, especially in its first half, then this threatens a number of pathologies for the embryo. As a rule, before the 3rd month of pregnancy, the woman's body itself gets rid of the "sick" fetus - a miscarriage occurs. But if, nevertheless, the fetus is fixed, then in its development in the I-II trimester (during the laying of organs), extremely severe deviations can be observed:

underdevelopment of the convolutions of the brain and its small volume;
violation of the formation of the optic nerve;
pathology of the development of the heart and spinal column;
problems with the lungs and other internal organs.

Mortality from early intrauterine infection is about 27-30%, while children born often suffer from serious illnesses - epilepsy, hydrocephalus, blindness, heart defects, severe mental and physical developmental delays.

Intranatal infection (or infection during childbirth) is less dangerous for the child than intrauterine. This mainly occurs when passing through the birth canal or blood transfusion, through the secret of the cervix and the first mother's milk. Since the incubation period (the time interval from infection to the appearance of the first signs) of CMV is about two months, its first symptoms appear after this time. The assertion that if a caesarean section is performed, infection of the fetus can be avoided is a myth. The likelihood of infection during surgery is the same as with natural delivery.

Postnatal (postpartum) infection is caused by the baby's not yet formed immunity. Ways of transmission are varied: from airborne droplets to contact. This may be infected mother's breast milk, kisses of a virus carrier, any contact with infected blood during medical procedures. Infection is also especially developed in kindergartens, since the contact path joins the airborne droplet - through toys, hands washed after the toilet at the wrong time, towels, dishes, etc. When a child visits a preschool institution, the main task of parents is to ensure good immunity of the baby. Strong immunity will not allow you to completely avoid CMV infection - the percentage of the probability of infection is very high, but good immune protection will not allow the symptoms of the disease to develop.

It is worth noting that there is a medical theory that the virus that has entered the body still depresses the immune system, and even if the child has no signs of the disease, he will belong to the frequently ill category of children.

Symptoms and signs of the disease

In newborns and infants

Ulcerative lesions of the skin - a characteristic sign of infection with cytomegalovirus

If the baby has acquired an infection in the womb, usually at birth it is immediately detected by a neonatologist. Symptoms of congenital cytomegalovirus in a newborn:

elevated levels of bilirubin;
jaundice (hepatitis);
pathologically enlarged liver, spleen, pancreas;
elevated temperature;
hemorrhages in organs;
muscle weakness;
skin rash, bleeding ulcers (pyoderma);
general intoxication;
light weight.

Clinical picture in infants:

sudden mood swings (drowsiness alternates with excessive excitement);
regurgitation, vomiting;
cessation of gain or weight loss;
muscle spasms, night cramps;
enlarged lymph nodes and salivary glands;
yellow skin tone and sclera of the eyes;
runny nose;
redness of the throat;
elevated body temperature.

In approximately 31% of cases, a more detailed laboratory examination before vaccination reveals a latent form of CMV in children under 1 year of age. It is CMV that is the root cause of lesions of the nervous system after vaccination, and not a “bad” vaccine. And in case of detection, it is first necessary to carry out antiviral treatment, and then to vaccinate the baby according to the scheme.

In preschool children

Since one of the ways of transmission of this infection is airborne, there is a high probability of cross-infection in places of mass congestion of children - kindergartens.

If the preschooler's own immunity has failed, cytomegalovirus begins to dominate in the body. Most often, the onset of the disease manifests itself in the form of a loss of mood and appetite, tearfulness, an increase in the level of acetone and all signs of acute respiratory infections. However, if the usual hypothermia passes within 1.5–2 weeks, then CMV infection manifests itself in the form of an unusually protracted cold with a long-lasting high temperature.

The insidiousness of CMV also lies in the fact that its chronic latent form may not appear immediately after the baby is born, but at 2–4 years of age or even later. Please note if your child:

often suffers from acute respiratory infections (ARVI) and pneumonia;
does not cope with bacterial infections - sinusitis, cystitis, skin diseases;
reacts badly to vaccination;
drowsy, unable to concentrate.

In school-age children and adolescents

If the infection did not occur in kindergarten, the transition of the child to school increases the chances of getting sick with cytomegalovirus infection, as mentioned above, 10-15% of children under 14 years of age already have CMV antibodies in their blood.

Since cytomegalovirus is a sexually transmitted disease, high school students and adolescents are more likely to get sick through unprotected sexual contact and kissing.

The manifestations of cytomegalovirus infection in older children and adolescents are as follows:

general deterioration of well-being;
temperature rise;
signs of acute respiratory infections - lacrimation, runny nose, severe cough;
swelling of the lymph glands (especially cervical);
sore throat (or severe redness of the throat);
an increase in internal organs (often the spleen, liver);
bubble rashes on the face and body (on the genitals);
gynecological problems in girls (ovarian inflammation, etc.);
painful urination in guys;
darkening of the color of urine;
aches in muscles and joints;
cheesy plaque on the tongue and tonsils;
nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

All these signs are also symptoms of another type 4 human herpes virus disease - infectious mononucleosis, which causes the Epstein-Barr virus. To understand what it is - acute respiratory infections, cytomegaly or mononucleosis - only laboratory tests will help.

Manifestations of cytomegalovirus in the photo

Diagnostics

Laboratory diagnostic methods can detect cytomegalovirus infection even in the absence of obvious symptoms of the disease.

To determine the presence of the virus, it is necessary to conduct a series of laboratory tests. Medicine offers several modern types of research on CMV:

blood test for antibodies;
general and biochemical blood test;
PCR analysis of urine and blood

The analysis of blood serum for antibodies by the enzyme immunoassay (ELISA) is a fairly sensitive and accurate diagnostic method that will determine whether the child is sick. And if the baby is sick, then the results of the study will show the degree of activity of the virus. Immunoglobulins IgM and IgG (they are also called antibodies) are proteins that stick to the cells of the virus and destroy it, a kind of "health soldiers".

So, according to the results of the analysis, we can determine the following:

IgM and IgG antibodies were not detected - CMV never got into the body.
IgM antibodies are not detected, IgG are present - the person has previously been ill (possibly asymptomatic), and antibodies have developed. But it should be remembered that these antibodies do not guarantee that the disease will never appear again. Unfortunately, absolute immunity to cytomegalovirus is not developed, and everything depends only on the strength of one's own immunity. With its decrease, a relapse may occur.
IgM are present, IgG are absent - the person is in the acute stage of primary infection and needs urgent therapy.
both IgM and IgG immunoglobulins are present - a relapse of the disease.

It should be remembered that only a specialist should decipher this analysis. It is possible that after 14 days a second analysis may be necessary (to control the dynamics of antibodies) or an alternative method of research.

A general blood test in the case of the active stage of the disease shows a clear lymphocytosis (an increase in the number of lymphocytes, the norm is 19–37%), as well as a decrease in the level of red blood cells. Biochemistry reveals an increase in mononuclear cells (> 10%), a decrease in hemoglobin levels and an increase in the number of neutrophils.

The analysis of urine and blood by polymerase reaction is an ultra-sensitive method and allows detecting DNA cells of the pathogen virus with almost 100% probability. The method is quite accurate and helps to detect the presence of infection even when the child does not show any symptoms yet. The study takes only 3-4 hours.

Treatment

The claim that cytomegalovirus infection can be cured is erroneous. It is impossible to completely cure the disease, once it enters the body, the virus remains in it forever. It’s just that during a decrease in immunity, he can wake up, and the rest of the time in a healthy child he does not manifest itself in any way. The golden rule in this situation is that it is better to do nothing than to conduct the wrong therapy. It is necessary not to "treat" the virus, but to raise the baby's immunity by all means. All therapeutic actions should be carried out only if all the symptoms are clearly manifested.

It is impossible to treat a child in utero, so all measures are aimed at stabilizing the mother's condition - raising immunity and suppressing the virus in order to avoid complications in the form of fetal malformations. Are used:

antiviral drugs - Acyclovir;
immunostimulants - Cytotect, immunoglobulin injections, Splenin, Dibazol.

In the state of pregnancy, it is impossible to carry out all the necessary measures so as not to harm the embryo. For example, the drug Ganciclovir is contraindicated during this period due to its toxicity.

Newborns and children of the first year of life, depending on the stage and nature of the course of the disease, can be prescribed courses of interferon preparations:

Interferon;
Cytoven;
Leukinferon;
Ganciclovir (with caution);
Cytotect (Neocytotect);
Neovir.

For older children, it makes sense to use immunostimulating agents, such as:

Isoprinosine (from the age of three);
Timogen (from six months);
Derinat;
Immunoflazid (may be prescribed from the first days of life).

To alleviate the general condition, symptomatic treatment is also prescribed. Possible application:

vasoconstrictor drops for free breathing through the nose, since breathing through the mouth negatively affects the functioning of the heart and brain (Nafthyzin for children, Sanorin);
antihistamines (for example, Zodak) to reduce itching in case of skin rashes;
antipyretic drugs based on ibuprofen or paracetamol (aspirin-containing drugs are not used in pediatrics), plant-based rectal suppositories (Viburkol).
Doctors do not recommend bringing down the temperature in children below 38 degrees, so as not to disrupt the immune system. An increase in temperature indicates that the defense mechanisms are turned on, and the active phase of the fight against the virus is underway.

After the relief of symptoms and satisfactory final test results, the attending physician may prescribe physiotherapy procedures for the small patient, which will stimulate self-healing processes, such as UHF, mud therapy, massage and other methods. This will raise the body's defenses and prevent the recurrence of the disease.

There are also natural natural stimulants: yarrow, horsetail, eleutherococcus, ginseng, wild rose, thyme, hawthorn, lemongrass, echinacea. For example, a ready-made alcoholic tincture of echinacea or eleutherococcus can be purchased at a pharmacy, and decoctions of other plants can be prepared at home. Herbal stimulants are started in small doses, as an allergic reaction may occur. Consultation with a pediatrician before starting phytotherapy is strictly required!

How to raise the child's immunity - video by Dr. Komarovsky

Possible consequences and complications

In most cases, cytomegalovirus infection is asymptomatic, complications are rare, but serious. The danger lies in the fact that at any moment a dormant infection can “shoot” anywhere in the body. For example, its congenital form can proceed without any special manifestations, and later turn into resulting diseases, such as:

anemia;
encephalitis;
hepatitis;
neuropathy;
brain cancer;
pneumonia (may be accompanied by laryngitis, bronchitis);
hemorrhagic syndrome (bleeding in organs and tissues);
lymphocytosis (inflammation of the lymph nodes);
lesions of internal organs of different localization (nephritis, cystitis, pancreatitis, etc.);
hepatitis;
CMV encephalitis:
bacterial sepsis.

Preventive measures

All preventive measures are directly related to the maintenance of immunity:

you need to provide the child with proper nutrition;
engage in moderate physical activity (swimming, Pilates for children);
ensure proper rest (daytime sleep in young children);
take vitamin complexes;
walk more often in the fresh air;
observe the rules of hygiene.

To prevent intrauterine infection, pregnant women with no immunity to cytomegalovirus should:

avoid places with large crowds of people (cinemas, markets);
observe the rules of personal hygiene;
do not use other people's combs, toothbrushes, bedding, dishes, lipstick, etc.;
take specialized vitamins for pregnant women;
avoid stress;
ventilate the apartment 2 times a day.

Cytomegalovirus is one of the most common diseases on the planet, posing a threat to a child even in the womb. But knowledge of information about it, prevention and competent treatment will help to avoid terrible consequences.

The child was diagnosed with cytomegalovirus. Despite the wide distribution of this agent around the planet, there is practically no knowledge of ordinary inhabitants about it. At best, someone once heard something, but it’s hard to remember what exactly. Dr. Yevgeny Komarovsky in an accessible form told that this is a virus, why it is dangerous and what to do if this “terrible beast” is found in the blood tests of a child. We give you the opportunity to get acquainted with the information from a famous doctor.

About the virus

Cytomegalovirus belongs to the family of herpes viruses of the fifth type. It is quite interesting when viewed through a microscope - its shape resembles a round prickly shell of a chestnut fruit, and in the context it looks like a gear.

Affecting a person, this virus causes the occurrence of cytomegalovirus infection. However, it is not so aggressive: after entering the body, it can exist quite peacefully there for a long time, without indicating its presence in any way. For this "tolerance" it is called an opportunistic virus, which goes into reproduction and causes disease only under certain factors. Chief among them is a weakened immune system. The most susceptible to infection are people who take a lot of medicines for any reason, live in an ecologically polluted area, and often and in large quantities use household chemicals.

Cytomegalovirus loves to settle in the salivary glands. From there it travels throughout the body.

By the way, the body gradually produces antibodies to it, and if enough of them have accumulated, even a weakened immune system can no longer cause a cytomegalovirus infection.

Transmission routes

If for adults the main route of infection is sexual, then for children it is kissing, contact with the saliva of a person infected with the virus, which is why it is sometimes called the kiss virus.

Also, the mother, a large cytomegalovirus infection, passes it on to the fetus during pregnancy, and this can cause quite serious malformations in its development. The child can become infected during childbirth through contact with the mucous membranes of the birth canal. In addition, the baby can get an infection with mother's milk in the first days of his life.

Another way of transmission of cytomegalovirus is blood. If the crumbs had replacement blood transfusions from a donor who has such a virus, as well as organ transplantation operations from an infected donor, then the child will definitely become carriers of cytomegalovirus.

Danger

Yevgeny Komarovsky cites the following fact: on the planet, 100% of the elderly in one way or another had contact with cytomegalovirus. Among adolescents, about 15% of those who already have antibodies to this agent are found (that is, the disease has already been transferred). By the age of 35-40, antibodies to CMV are found in 50-70% of people. By retirement, the number of those who are immune to the virus is even higher. Thus, it is quite difficult to talk about some kind of excessive danger of the fifth type virus, because many who have been ill do not even know about such an infection - it went completely unnoticed for them.

The virus is dangerous only for pregnant women and their unborn children, but also on the condition that the future mother's encounter with CMV during gestation occurred for the first time. If a woman has been ill before, and antibodies are found in her blood, then there is no harm to the child. But primary infection during pregnancy is dangerous for the baby - he may die or there is a high risk of congenital malformations.

If the infection of the baby occurs during pregnancy or immediately after childbirth, then doctors talk about congenital cytomegalovirus infection. This is a pretty serious diagnosis.

If a child has caught the virus already in his own conscious life, they speak of an acquired infection. It can be overcome without much difficulty and consequences.

Parents most often ask the question: what does it mean if antibodies to cytomegalovirus (IgG) are found in a baby’s blood test and + is put opposite CMV? There is nothing to worry about, says Yevgeny Komarovsky. This does not mean that the child is sick, but that there are antibodies in his body that will prevent the cytomegalovirus from doing its "dirty deed". They developed on their own, because the child has already had contact with this virus.

You need to start worrying if the child has IgM + in the results of a blood test. This means that there is a virus in the blood, but no antibodies yet.

Symptoms of infection

The presence of cytomegalovirus infection in a newborn is determined by the doctors of the children's department of the maternity hospital. Immediately after the birth of the crumbs, they do an extended blood test.

In the case of an acquired infection, parents should be aware that the incubation period lasts from 3 weeks to 2 months, and the disease itself can last from 2 weeks to a month and a half.

The symptoms of even a very attentive mother will not cause the slightest doubt and suspicion - they are very reminiscent of a common viral infection:

body temperature rises;
respiratory symptoms appear (runny nose, cough, which quickly turns into bronchitis);
signs of intoxication are noticeable, the child has no appetite, he complains of headache and muscle pain.

If everything is in order with the child’s immune system, then it will give a powerful rebuff to the virus, its spread will be stopped, and the same IgG antibodies will appear in the baby’s blood. However, if the peanut's own protection was not enough, the infection can "hide" and acquire a sluggish, but deep form, in which the internal organs and nervous system are affected. With a generalized form of cytomegalovirus infection, the liver, kidneys and adrenal glands, and the spleen suffer.

Treatment

It is customary to treat a cytomegalovirus infection by analogy with a herpes infection, except that they choose drugs that do not affect herpes in general, but cytomegalovirus in particular. There are two such funds - "Ganciclovir" and "Cytoven", both are quite expensive.

During the acute phase of the disease, a child is prescribed plenty of fluids and vitamins. Antibiotics are not needed for uncomplicated cytomegalovirus infection because antimicrobials do not help against viruses.

Antibacterial agents can be prescribed by a doctor in case of a complicated course of the disease, when there are inflammatory processes from the internal organs.

Prevention

The best prevention is strengthening the immune system, good nutrition, hardening, playing sports. If a pregnant woman did not suffer from cytomegaly and she does not have antibodies to this virus when registering, then she will automatically fall into the risk group.

This virus is young (it was discovered only in the middle of the 20th century), and therefore little studied. To date, the effectiveness of the experimental vaccine is approximately 50%, that is, half of the vaccinated pregnant women will still get CMV.

To learn more about cytomegalovirus infection, the video of Dr. Komarovsky will help you.

Almost all parents are aware of such a disease, which is often not manifested in children, and it is possible to detect an infectious disease only after a blood test, in which antibodies to cytomegalovirus are found. How dangerous this disease is for the child's body and how to behave in case of its manifestation will be described in this article.

What is a cytomegalovirus infection?

Cytomegalovirus is an infectious disease belonging to the herpes group. It occurs most often asymptomatically in the initial stages, in children the symptoms are more pronounced than in adults. That is why the patients of virologists are predominantly children.

The infection can be congenital or acquired. Congenital is more severe and causes more complications. The disease can provoke disturbances in the functioning of individual organs or systems or worsen the general condition of the body.

In connection with the sharp deterioration of the environment, parents are increasingly asking the question: what is dangerous? Symptoms and treatment depend on the method of infection of the child. As a rule, the infection manifests itself only with a decrease in immunity, before that it can be in a latent form and not harm the health of the baby.

Virus localization

After the infection enters the body, it seeks to reach the salivary glands through the bloodstream. This is where the virus inserts its DNA into the nucleus of healthy cells and promotes the production of new viral particles.

As a result, the cell significantly increases in size. It is from here that the name of the disease came from, since cytomegaly is translated from Latin as “giant cells”. Healthy children with well-functioning immune systems do not develop cytomegalovirus infection. Symptoms in children with immunodeficiency, HIV, malformations and preterm infants may vary in severity.

Congenital cytomegalovirus

It enters the child's body directly from the mother, through the placenta. This happens when a woman falls ill for the first time and there are no antibodies to this virus in her body. For a baby, the most dangerous is a congenital cytomegalovirus infection.

Symptoms in children can be manifested by visual or auditory disorders, frequent convulsions, developmental delays (mental, physical). Another possibility is the period of childbirth or breastfeeding. In this case, there will be no dangerous consequences for the child and the disease may never manifest itself.

Acquired cytomegalovirus

It enters the body of a child in preschool and school institutions. Since the virus is transmitted by airborne droplets, it can enter the body of all children in the same room. Such an infection will not bring any harm to the health of the child.

Cytomegalovirus infection in children acquired at school age does not contribute to disturbances in the development of body systems and does not slow down the overall development of the child. But with a decrease in immunity, it can manifest itself as frequent colds.

Symptoms of congenital cytomegalovirus

With neonatal infection of the fetus (especially before the 12th week of pregnancy), the child is born with numerous malformations. The virus contributes to the presence of heart defects, brain pathologies and other dangerous diseases or pathological processes in the baby's body.

The first sign of CMV in a child is muscle hypotonia, lethargy, restless sleep, poor appetite, and problems with digestion. In especially severe cases, death is possible in the first weeks after birth.

When infected in the third trimester, the child has no malformations. In this case, the symptoms of the disease will be manifested by jaundice, hemolytic anemia, hydrocephalus and other dangerous pathologies.

After childbirth, the disease may not manifest itself, however, as the child grows older, slight developmental delays will begin to appear, which will be provoked by cytomegalovirus infection. Symptoms in children 3 years old are manifested by the presence of various neurological disorders and diseases.

Symptoms of acquired cytomegalovirus

The acquired virus manifests itself in rare cases, most often it is dormant, without having any effect on the children's body. This indicates a good functioning of the immune system, which prevents the activation of the virus. In the event that the child has a weak immune defense, the disease will manifest itself with frequent colds (with inflammation of the lymph nodes, runny nose and fever).

If a child has chronic immunodeficiency, his body will very often be infected. In this case, complications from the disease will be localized in many body systems - cardiovascular, nervous, digestive, urogenital.

Treatment of this form of the virus is very long and in most cases unsuccessful. Fortunately, complicated cytomegalovirus infection is quite rare. Symptoms in children, treatment, reviews - all this is important information for parents who care about the health of their baby and seek to prevent possible negative consequences of the disease.

Diagnosis of the disease

Diagnosing a virus has certain difficulties. To detect the pathogen, it is necessary to carry out a number of specific analyzes and tests. The main ones are the collection of saliva, urine and feces from a child.

In the blood test, attention is paid to the presence of antibodies. IgG can be passed from mother to child and do not indicate the presence of the virus, as it will disappear over time without medical treatment. If IgM is found in the blood, this is a direct confirmation of the presence of the virus in the child's body.

The presence of antibodies to this virus in the blood is not yet a cause for concern. Cytomegalovirus infection in a child, the symptoms of which do not appear, can be in a latent state all his life, without affecting the state of the body and without causing complications.

Hardware diagnostics of CMVI

To diagnose the affected body systems, the doctor may prescribe additional examinations that will determine the degree of damage to the body by the virus:

chest x-ray - if the lung tissue is damaged, the picture will show signs of pneumonia or other diseases of the respiratory system;
MRI or ultrasound of the brain shows the presence of calcifications or inflammatory processes in the brain;
Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity makes it possible to establish an increase in the size of the liver and spleen, the presence of hemorrhages in the organs or disruption of the digestive and urinary systems.

If the child has an infection, the doctor will send you for an examination by an ophthalmologist to identify damage to the fundus and structures of the visual apparatus. This will allow to identify structural changes in time and prescribe competent treatment that can save the child's vision, which is directly affected by cytomegalovirus infection in children. Symptoms, feedback from parents and doctors make it possible to more rationally prescribe treatment based on the experience of past patients.

Examination methods are prescribed by the pediatrician together with the infectious disease specialist. After detecting the localization of the virus, a nephrologist, urologist, neurologist or ophthalmologist take part in the treatment of the child.

Treatment of congenital cytomegalovirus

Features and methods of treatment depend directly on the form of infection and the complexity of the infection.

Note! It is impossible to completely kill this virus in the body. Treatment is aimed only at improving the general condition of the child and the normalization of vital processes in the body.

Drug therapy for CMVI consists in the use of interferon and immunoglobulin, which acts directly on cytomegalovirus infection. If inflammatory processes are present in the body, appropriate antibiotics and means to increase the body's immune defenses are necessarily prescribed.

In some cases, a great effect of therapy can be manifested by the appointment of homeopathic remedies, acupuncture or manual therapy. The method of treatment is selected individually, depending on how much cytomegalovirus infection has affected the body. Symptoms in children, a photo of the manifestation of the disease will allow you to identify the virus in time and seek help from a doctor.

Treatment of acquired cytomegalovirus

The acquired form of cytomegalovirus can be treated at home. In this case, after the examination, the doctor selects the appropriate treatment, and parents can independently carry it out, following all the recommendations of the doctor.

Cytomegalovirus infection in children, the symptoms of which are manifested by diarrhea, requires the use of adsorbing agents, thanks to which not only the problem with the work of the intestine will be solved, but also all pathogenic bacteria will be removed from it. All this will positively affect the result of complex treatment.

Infected children should receive good nutrition and drink plenty of clean drinking water. This will allow you to quickly remove bacteria from the body and restore metabolic processes.

Cytomegalovirus infection: symptoms in children, "Cytotect" as a way to increase immunity

Cytotect is a specific immunoglobulin aimed at eliminating CVM pathogens in children. The drug is used to treat or prevent a disease accompanied by a decrease in the body's immune defenses. Preventive measures are necessary during organ transplantation, when immunity is suppressed artificially so that the transplanted organ is not rejected.

Prevention is the main way to protect against cytomegalovirus. After all, it is much easier to observe personal hygiene, lead a healthy lifestyle and take the necessary drugs as prescribed by a doctor than to treat the disease later, especially with the presence of complications.

Consequences of cytomegalovirus infection

Newborns and children suffering from immunodeficiency are more susceptible to the development of complications. It is worth noting that not everything depends on the timeliness and effectiveness of treatment, since the disease can progress latently and cause serious health problems.

The most commonly seen complications include:

damage to the nervous system;
encephalitis - inflammation of the brain;
cytomegalovirus pneumonia;
eye diseases, in particular chorioretinitis, which leads to strabismus in children and blindness.

The effectiveness of treatment largely depends on the state of the child's natural immune defenses. Since drugs can only suppress the spread and aggressiveness of the virus. If a child has cancer or leukemia in addition to CMV, the symptoms will be much more pronounced, and the treatment will be much more difficult and lengthy.

Prevention of CMVI in children

The main method of prevention is to strengthen the immune system of the child. This task includes not only rational nutrition, but also the moderate physical activity necessary for the child, hardening, active rest and many other factors.

After an illness (especially a serious infectious disease), a child should not be immediately taken to a kindergarten or school, since his body has not yet fully recovered, and his immunity is too weak. In this condition, there is a high chance that the child may become infected with CMV.

If his condition worsens, it is necessary to consult a doctor, pass the necessary tests and be examined. The attentive attitude of parents to the health of their child will avoid the dangerous consequences of the disease by stopping the virus at an early stage.

Most parents do not know what kind of misfortune it is - a cytomegalovirus infection. Although they themselves, with a high degree of probability, have already been ill with this “sore”, forever remaining its carriers. Why is cytomegalovirus infection dangerous for children? And how to treat cytomegalovirus in a child?

Newborns and children with weakened immune systems suffer the most from cytomegalovirus infection and its consequences.

Cytomegalovirus infection in children: what does herpes have to do with it?

Speaking of cytomegalovirus infection in children, we return to the topic. In essence, cytomegalovirus is one of the varieties of the herpes virus, and the mention of it is found in medical records no less than the mention of the herpes simplex virus.

Medical scientists are convinced that all people on Earth (except, perhaps, only those who live their lives, like Robinson, in absolute isolation from other people) are infected with cytomegalovirus. The only difference is that most of the population becomes infected with it in childhood, and the rest - already in adulthood, but no later than 40-45 years.

Like the herpes simplex virus, cytomegalovirus also penetrates the child's cells at the first infection and remains there for life, for the most part being in a "sleeping" inactive state. And if a person from early childhood leads a healthy lifestyle, avoids stressful situations, monitors his diet and health (at first, of course, at the suggestion of his reasonable parents), thereby maintaining his immunity in constant "combat readiness", then cytomegalovirus in his the body can "sleep" indefinitely ...

How does a cytomegalovirus infection occur?

From person to person, cytomegalovirus is transmitted by contact. And since it is contained in any secretions of the human body (in saliva, sweat, blood, sputum, feces, urine, semen and women's milk) - there are a great many chances of getting infected. But all of them are acquired in nature and are not considered dangerous to the health of the child.

In both adults and children (usually already a few months old or older), infection with acquired cytomegalovirus is almost asymptomatic. And it does not threaten any serious damage to health.

However, children can become infected not only in the first years or in the first months of life. But a little earlier! And in this case, the infection can turn into a tragedy ...

We mentioned that cytomegalovirus in children can be acquired- and in this case, it practically does not pose any danger to the health of the baby. But also cytomegalovirus in children can be congenital(when the infection of the child occurs in the womb, at the time of childbirth, or in the first days after childbirth). And in this case, cytomegalovirus infection can cause irreparable harm to the health of the child.

For which children is cytomegalovirus most dangerous?

still unborn children, the infection of which occurs during fetal development through the placenta;
newborns whose immune system is still weak and unstable;
children of any age with severely weakened immunity or with its complete absence (for example, against the background of AIDS).

With congenital infection with cytomegalovirus, there is a real risk of damage to the child - with a high degree of probability, malformations of the baby, serious disorders in his nervous system, in the digestive system, in the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems, and irreversible damage to the organs of hearing and vision are possible .

Moreover, a baby can “catch” a cytomegalovirus that is dangerous for a baby not only during fetal development, but also during childbirth (contacting with secretions in the birth canal), and also immediately after birth - when breastfeeding.

Diagnosis of cytomegalovirus infection in children occurs by laboratory analysis, which can be done in several ways. In Russia, by far the most common is the so-called ELISA method - enzyme immunoassay. Moreover, it is important to find out not only the presence of a virus in the body, but also to determine its form - whether it is congenital or acquired.

When a cytomegalovirus infection develops in children during the neonatal period, in this case its symptoms are usually similar to the symptoms - lymphoid tissue suffers, which can be expressed in an increase in lymph nodes, inflammation of the tonsils, an increase in the size of the liver and spleen, difficulty breathing. Also among the symptoms of congenital cytomegalovirus infection are often found:

impaired swallowing and sucking reflexes.

And if it is difficult for the baby to breathe through the nose, naturally, the following are also added to the symptoms:

loss of appetite and weight loss;
lack of restful sleep;
crying and anxiety.

At different stages of pregnancy, the expectant mother takes a lot of tests. including cytomegalovirus. If, before the start of the "interesting situation" or in the first weeks of pregnancy, the analysis showed the presence of mature antibodies to cytomegalovirus, this woman can calmly rejoice, without fear of anything.
She herself is protected, and will be able to protect her child from this infection. The most dangerous
situation: if a woman does not have antibodies to cytomegalovirus at the beginning of pregnancy. The probability of encountering it within 9 months is extremely
great, but for her this meeting will be absolutely safe, but for her
she can threaten her unborn baby with the greatest risks ...

And despite the fact that congenital infection of the baby occurs even before childbirth (or during childbirth, or immediately after childbirth), the symptoms of cytomegalovirus infection may not appear immediately, but even 1-2 months after birth.

The most severe forms of cytomegalovirus infection in children acquire during intrauterine infection. Alas, even in this case, an asymptomatic course of the disease is possible - and then not only parents, but even doctors can not immediately suspect that the baby has a serious illness that threatens with serious consequences.

Possible complications of asymptomatic development of cytomegalovirus in infants

Perhaps this is one of the most frightening and dangerous situations in the life of an infant and his parents - when the baby develops a serious illness, but no symptoms are observed. Unfortunately, sometimes cytomegalovirus infection develops in this scenario in infants.

In this case, the consequences can be very sad. For example:

About 20% of children with active cytomegalovirus, but an asymptomatic form of the disease, a few months after infection, show severe convulsions, disturbances in motor activity, changes in the skeleton of the skull, and clearly insufficient body weight.
And after 4-5 years, about half of these children have obvious violations of speech and mental development, as well as serious problems in the work of the cardiovascular system. Some children begin to rapidly lose their sight.

How does cytomegalovirus proceed in children older than the neonatal period

If the infection is acquired and the infection itself occurred when the baby has already survived the newborn milestone, the child, as a rule, easily copes with the disease: the infection is almost always asymptomatic, and only in some cases it can resemble.

Symptoms may include:

lethargy and drowsiness;
swollen lymph nodes (especially in the neck);
pain in muscles and joints;
chills and mild fever.

As a rule, the acute period of the acquired form of cytomegalovirus infection in children lasts from 2 weeks to 2 months. But most of the time it goes unnoticed. In some cases, the disease requires the supervision of a doctor, but almost always resolves on its own, without any specific treatment. However, we recall that this applies specifically to the acquired form of the disease - when the baby became infected long after birth, having managed to accumulate a certain reserve of the body's immune defenses by the time of infection.

Only in rare cases, the acquired form of cytomegalovirus gives any serious complications. And in the vast majority of cases, the disease goes away without a trace.

But if your child, 2-3 months after the diagnosis of cytomegalovirus infection, still has obvious signs of mononucleosis (enlarged lymph nodes, adenoids and inflamed tonsils, constant lethargy and fatigue, sometimes increased salivation and a whitish coating on the oral mucosa), it is imperative see a doctor.

Tactics of treatment of cytomegalovirus in children

Drug treatment for cytomegalovirus infection in children is carried out only in cases of congenital infection, as well as in severe forms of the disease.

As in the case of the herpes simplex virus, the treatment of cytomegalovirus infection in children does not imply a total elimination of the body from viruses - this is simply impossible. Treatment is reduced to "extinguish" the activity of the virus and avoid possible negative consequences. Most often, antiherpetic drugs such as Cytovene or ganciclovir are used to treat cytomegalovirus infection.

As in the case of other herpetic infections, drug therapy can in no case be prescribed independently - any medicines against herpes (including against cytomegalovirus) should be used strictly as directed by a doctor, and not by a neighbor, an erudite relative or network bloggers!

In a word - about the most important

Among the sea of information, it will be useful for parents to “fish out” and remember several especially important facts about cytomegalovirus infection:

1 By itself, cytomegalovirus, present in human cells in an inactive state, remains invulnerable to any drugs - it is impossible to kill or “expel” it from the body. A person (most often a child), having become infected with cytomegalovirus, remains its carrier for life.
2 For adults and for children older than 1 month of life, cytomegalovirus infection in the vast majority of cases does not threaten any damage to health - it is asymptomatic and without consequences.
3 Cytomegalovirus infection is really dangerous for people (and children) with a weakened immune system or obvious immunodeficiency, as well as for newborn babies (who could become infected in utero or during childbirth), as well as for pregnant women. And only for those expectant mothers who first become infected with cytomegalovirus already during pregnancy.
4 It is possible to identify cytomegalovirus infection only with the help of special tests, which are extremely rare - because in most cases the disease is asymptomatic. Consequently, a huge number of people do not even suspect that they themselves, or their children, have been ill with CMV infection.
5 In patients with immunodeficiency, as well as newborn babies, the infection often acquires a generalized form, the symptomatic picture of which has its own characteristics - the course of the disease is very similar to mononucleosis: the tonsils become inflamed, the lymph nodes increase in size, the temperature can rise to 39 ° C, signs of tonsillitis may appear and pneumonia, etc. Symptoms of jaundice may occur due to liver damage. At the first suspicion of mononucleosis in this case, it is necessary to do an analysis for cytomegalovirus.
6 Congenital cytomegalovirus infection is the most dangerous. But it does not affect all newborn babies, but only about 10% of them. The rest recover asymptomatically and without negative consequences.
7 The course of cytomegalovirus infection in newborn babies is symptomatically similar not only to mononucleosis, but also to other infections - for example, herpes simplex, rubella and toxoplasmosis. Therefore, as a rule, when symptoms of one of these diseases appear, the analysis is done immediately for everything.
8 The sooner the analysis is carried out and the presence of infection detected, the greater the chances of a quick recovery without consequences. If you start treatment in the first 7-9 days after infection, almost all the catastrophic consequences of cytomegalovirus infection can be avoided. The most common type of analysis for cytomegalovirus is an ELISA study (enzymatic immunoassay).

According to the WHO, mortality from a generalized form of cytomegalovirus infection worldwide today ranks second in the sector of viral diseases after mortality. However, you always have all the means in your arsenal: information, diagnostic and treatment options to protect your children or yourself from any negative consequences of “communication” with cytomegalovirus ...

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. Within 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:

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.
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 are used to fight against (Ganciclovir, Cytoven,) and. 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.