Most individuals have never heard of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) nor know how to pronounce it. It is not on the ‘official’ STD list but it can be transmitted via unprotected sex.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common virus that can infect anyone at any time. The majority of those who are infected do not realize it because symptoms are rare. However, if you are pregnant or have a weakened immune system, CMV is cause for concern. The bad news is that once you contract the virus, it is with you forever. The good news is that if you remain healthy and your immune system is not compromised, you will have no issues. There are thousands of viruses in our bodies.
There are several different classifications of this virus, but we will be talking specifically about Human Cytomegalovirus. Animals have their own subset. HCMV is found throughout all geographic locations and socioeconomic groups, and infects more that 90% of the world’s population as indicated by the presence of antibodies in a majority of the general population. It is age-dependent which proves how contagious it is. 58.9% of individuals aged 6 and older are infected with CMV while 90.8% of individuals aged 80 and older are positive for HCMV.
CMV spreads from person to person through body fluids, such as blood, saliva, urine, semen and breast milk. While there is no cure, there are medications that help with symptoms.
An illness resembling infectious mononucleosis is the most common presentation of CMV in people with weakened immune systems (immunocompromised). CMV also can attack specific organs. Signs and symptoms may include:
Most people infected with CMV who are otherwise healthy experience few if any symptoms. When first infected, some adults may have symptoms similar to mononucleosis, including fatigue, fever and muscle aches.
Cytomegalovirus is related to the viruses that cause chickenpox, herpes simplex and mononucleosis. There is now evidence that once you have had chickenpox, that virus remains in you as well. As an older adult you can develop a very painful condition called shingles. Once you’re infected with CMV, the virus remains with you for life, but it’s not always active. CMV may cycle through periods during which it lies dormant and then reactivates. If you’re healthy, it mainly stays dormant. You can pass the virus to others during reactivation.
People who are infected with CMV can shed the virus (pass the virus from their infected body fluids, such as urine, saliva, blood and semen into the environment). Young children often shed CMV for months after they first become infected. Although parents of children who are shedding the virus can become infected from their children, CMV does not spread easily. Less than 1 in 5 parents of children who are shedding CMV become infected over the course of a year.
The virus can spread in a number of ways:
