Wash your hands....STOP CMV!

As most of you know, Sienna has congenital (born with it) cytomegalovirus, CMV. While pregnant with Sienna, my doctor noticed on the ultrasound that Sienna had an enlarged ventricule in her brain. After many ultrasounds at the Royal Alex, one doctor recommended that we get a TORCH screen done once the baby arrives. This would have meant, Sienna would have immediately been diagnosed with CMV, perhaps given an antiviral which could have slowed down and maybe stopped the virus from attacking. She may not have had severe/profound hearing loss, she may not have had such great developmental and growth delays but the doctors referral was missed; all the doctors under baby Sienna's care did not see the recommendation.



After 18 months of questions, concerns and many appointments, a diagnosis came in March '09 when a dedicated and caring pediatrian at the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital and a persistent and knowlegable Infectious Disease Specialist at the Stollery Children's hospital worked together to give us an answer to Sienna's hearing loss and developmental and growth delays. They did a never before done test of her newborn blood (which is kept in a lab in Edmonton for the scientist not the doctors), testing for CMV, which came back positive. I have learned alot about this silent and complicated virus and I continue to learn everyday as I encouter new situations. I would like to take this time to share with you what I know about CMV. My knowledge comes mostly from the website Centre for Disease and Control and from the Infectious Disease Specialist at the Stollery Children's Hospital.

• Between 50% and 80% of adults in the United States are infected with CMV by 40 years of age


• CMV is the most common virus transmitted to a pregnant woman's unborn child


• Approximately 1 in 150 children is born with congenital CMV infection


• Approximately 1 in 750 children is born with or develops permanent disabilities due to CMV which is a 0.001% chance that it'll happen to you


• Congenital CMV (meaning present at birth) is as common a cause of serious disability as Down syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome, and neural tube defects yet nobody knows about it


• CMV is found in body fluids, including urine, saliva (spit), breast milk, blood, tears, semen, and vaginal fluids


• Once CMV is in a person's body, it stays there for life


• Most CMV infections are "silent," meaning they cause no signs or symptoms in an infected person


• Transmission of CMV occurs from person to person, through close contact with body fluids (urine, saliva (spit), breast milk, blood, tears, semen, and vaginal fluids), but the chance of getting CMV infection from casual contact is very small.


• In the United States, about 1%-4% of uninfected mothers have primary (or first) CMV infection during a pregnancy.


• 33% of women who become infected with CMV for the first time during pregnancy pass the virus to their unborn babies.


• CMV is spread from person to person contact (such as, kissing, sexual contact, and getting saliva or urine on your hands and then touching your eyes, or the inside of your nose or mouth)


• Women who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy should follow hygienic practices (e.g., careful handwashing) to avoid CMV infection. Because young children are more likely to have CMV in their urine or saliva (spit) than are older children or adults, pregnant women who have young children or work with young children should be especially careful.


• Vaccines for preventing CMV infection are still in the research and development stage.

PREVENTING CMV DURING PREGNANCY

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for 15-20 seconds, especially after changing diapers or touching saliva or nasal secretions from a young child.


• Reduce contact with saliva and nasal secretions from young children by 1) using soap and water or a disinfectant to clean hard surfaces that have been contaminated by secretions, 2) not sharing food, drinks, or eating utensils with young children, and 3) being careful to limit kissing of young children on the lips.


• If you work in a day care center, limit close contact with children younger than 2½ years of age, especially if you've never been infected with CMV or don't know if you've been infected.

Because Sienna has congenital CMV, she carries the virus and will for the rest of her life. Most of the time the virus is "latent" (i.e. hiding in different cells of the body) and not being excreted. However, from time to time they will shed virus without any symptoms. It can be transmitted by direct contact or contact with a contaminated object, although the highest risk is with repeated direct contact.

Although the risk is extremely low, 0.001% chance, of having a baby born with CMV and permanent disabilities, it happened to me. I am very cautious when Sienna is out especially around pregnant women. This post is to educate pregnant women on the importance of hand-washing even when you are around your own children because they could also be carrying the virus.

Here are other informative links:

Congenital CMV Blog

Department of Health- New York State

Stop CMV

Please pass this message on and help me spread awareness about CMV.