Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a virus that affects both men and women and is transmitted through many bodily fluids.
Street Name: CMV
Symptoms: Enlarged lymph nodes in neck area, fever, fatigue, and loss of appetite.
Treatment/ Relief: There’s no cure for CMV, and treatment for the virus generally isn’t necessary or recommended for healthy children and adults.
How you get it: CMV spreads through bodily fluids as a result of casual contact and sexual contact.
What should you know? CMV infections are rarely serious in otherwise healthy kids and adults; they usually cause only mild symptoms, if any.
Stats: CMV is quite common. About 4 out of every 10 Americans get CMV by the time they reach puberty, mainly through contact with other children’s saliva. Adults, however, usually become infected through sexual activity. Like many other viruses, CMV remains in the body for life.
How does this impact pregnancy? Mothers can transmit CMV to the infant. About 1 out of every 100 babies born in the United States has CMV. Most babies born with CMV have no problems from the virus. But about 1-2 out every 10 of them develop serious health problems. Talk to your provider about reducing any risks.