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Summary

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a virus found around the world. It is related to the viruses that cause chickenpox and infectious mononucleosis (mono). Between 50% and 80% of adults in the United States have had a CMV infection by age 40. Once CMV is in a person's body, it stays there for life.

CMV is spread through close contact with body fluids. Most people with CMV don't get sick and don't know that they've been infected. But infection with the virus can be serious in babies and people with weak immune systems. If a woman gets CMV when she is pregnant, she can pass it on to her baby. Usually the babies do not have health problems. But some babies can develop lifelong disabilities.

A blood test can tell whether a person has ever been infected with CMV. Most people with CMV don't need treatment. If you have a weakened immune system, your doctor may prescribe antiviral medicine. Good hygiene, including proper hand washing, may help prevent infections.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Start Here

• About Cytomegalovirus (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Cytomegalovirus (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish

Diagnosis and Tests

• Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Tests (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish

Related Issues

• Congenital CMV and Hearing Loss (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Cytomegalovirus Infections (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: Cytomegalovirus-induced oncomodulation drives immune escape in glioblastoma.
• Article: Low Absolute Lymphocyte Count Associated With Anti-Thymocyte Globulin Induction May Be...
• Article: RhCMV reactivation in SARS-CoV-2 infected aged rhesus macaques.
• Cytomegalovirus Infections -- see more articles

Find an Expert

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Also in Spanish
• March of Dimes Foundation Also in Spanish
• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Children

• CMV in Newborns (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Cytomegalovirus (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Women

• Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Pregnancy (Organization of Teratology Information Specialists) - PDF Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

• CMV - gastroenteritis/colitis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• CMV blood test (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• CMV pneumonia (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• CMV retinitis (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish