What is CMV?
- CMV, named Cytomegalovirus (sy·toe·MEG·a·low·vy·rus), is a virus found in the Herpes family of viruses, just like Chicken Pox or Mono. As an otherwise healthy individual, most people will have little to no symptoms. If they do even realize they are sick, it will generally mimic the common cold and thus will be written off as simply that – a cold.Just like the chicken pox, once you have had it, it stays dormant in your body for life, along with the anitbodies to fight it off much easier the next time.
- The first C stands for congenital meaning the virus was acquired before birth. If the virus is transmitted to your unborn baby, this will be the diagnosis, cCMV.
- As long as the person is not immunocompromised (Transplant patient, HIV patient, elderly, etc.) nothing! Even if your toddler or another baby get the virus, it generally poses no health complications.
- No one is completely sure, but there seem to be two main theories.
- Traditionally: CMV goes through the placenta and is acquired by the baby where it attacks the immune system.
- New Research: CMV attacks the placenta and stops it from nourishing the baby. Various research shows the difference of placentas at birth from mothers with CMV and treated mothers. Placentas affected by CMV are hard, etc. while those treated are like new, fresh placentas. (We hope to get the proper permissions to post this research here soon)
Am I a risk to others?
- As long as you are following general hygiene practices (wash hands after contact with your bodily excrements…tears, saliva, urine, etc.) you should not spread the virus. Those you should be more careful around are those mentioned above or other pregnant women.
How often does CMV occur?
- In the US, by the time a person reaches the age of 40, there is a 50- 80% chance they will have had CMV in their lifetime.
- 1/150 babies are born with cCMV.
- 1/700 babies are born with disabilities from CMV, making it more common than Down Syndrome even!
Treatment Advice from a Doctor:
For more specific advice on receiving treatment, follow the link below. Dr. Adler will consult with you or your doctor to determine a treatment plan. He has been studying CMV, treatment, and treatment outcomes for decades.
Either way, consider being a part of his research and registry, where he tracks the data on the numbers who received treatment vs those who did not and their outcomes. He also studies placentas of CMV moms who did and did not receive treatment to see the difference.
http://www.cmvregistry.org/
For more specific advice on receiving treatment, follow the link below. Dr. Adler will consult with you or your doctor to determine a treatment plan. He has been studying CMV, treatment, and treatment outcomes for decades.
Either way, consider being a part of his research and registry, where he tracks the data on the numbers who received treatment vs those who did not and their outcomes. He also studies placentas of CMV moms who did and did not receive treatment to see the difference.
http://www.cmvregistry.org/