CMV - anyone with any experience

[Muppity]

So I have heard about it without really knowing what it was until now.

Does anyone have any real info about how contagious it is etc (I've read everything from 'you'll be fine' to 'you'll catch it from a sneeze') Particularly in relation to congenital CMV. I've read today that congenital CMV is highly contagious for between 1 and 2 years.

And has anyone gone through the process of being tested for it? I'm told that there is no point, but I'm not so sure.

Any assistance muchly appreciated.

[LionsandBears]

I've been tested for it during pregnancy, as it can cause miscarriage or stillbirth, but not otherwise. I dont know anything about congenital CMV. If you want to be tested for it, be tested for it. Will the results alter anything for you?

[Jennifer13]

Yup, I had it really badly in my late teens. It presented much like glandular fever and came up in a blood test. I had ongoing chronic fatigue for almost two years afterwards.

It sucked. I couldn't work and no medication helped. Tried anti-depressants to help me sleep properly, couldn't handle the side effects so just stuck to herbal remedies. Really knocked my immune system around because I caught everything going around. Hard to tell whether the constant run of viruses or fatigue were worse than the initial CMV!

Apparently, lots of ppl are carriers and would never know. I eventually got stronger and my immune system recovered. The virus I believe is there for good, but not an issue for me now. I think it impacts on my ability to donate organs if I die, they could only go to someone else who has it.

Hope that helps.

[Jennifer13]

I didn't know it could be congenital, because it's a virus, not a genetic disorder? I was dreadfully concerned about infecting anyone else, it's mostly an issue for someone in their first trimester. Never impacted on my pgs as it isn't active now. Maybe that's what they meant by no point in testing?

[briggsy's girl]

Yup, I had it really badly in my late teens. It presented much like glandular fever and came up in a blood test. I had ongoing chronic fatigue for almost two years afterwards.

It sucked. I couldn't work and no medication helped. Tried anti-depressants to help me sleep properly, couldn't handle the side effects so just stuck to herbal remedies. Really knocked my immune system around because I caught everything going around. Hard to tell whether the constant run of viruses or fatigue were worse than the initial CMV!

Apparently, lots of ppl are carriers and would never know. I eventually got stronger and my immune system recovered. The virus I believe is there for good, but not an issue for me now. I think it impacts on my ability to donate organs if I die, they could only go to someone else who has it.

Hope that helps.

this is basically what happened to me - but it was in my early 20's - and i STILL have CFS flares from it (well, having had GF and CMV within a couple of years, it could be from either one!). my immune system is shot so it doesn't take much for any other virus to drag me down and the CFS to flare up - and i was told it was mostly to do with having those two viruses when i was younger

and yes, I've heard organ donation is impacted by it - but more that CMV is almost welcome because so many people are CMV positive (and many don't know). being cmv negative is apparently unusual


i have heard of CMV having some impact on the liver and resultant functions - there can be cysts on the liver as a result of the virus...


never heard of congenital CMV sorry hun

[Floweryfields]

CMV is a fairly serious issue in my line of work - considering the high chance of employees being and/or getting pregnant.
CMV is passed via bodily fluids, majorly poo and wee but sometimes saliva too - so personal hygeine is the major preventative factor. Usually anyone who's had anything to do with changing lots of nappies will have been exposed and therefore immune. Most prevelent in children under 2.
There has only been one gazetted case in my industry where a pregnant worker had a baby affected by CMV. So for someone not in a position where they would be handling bodily fluids from young children on a regular basis, the risks of getting it would be much lower.

I don't know how CMV could be congenital - the V stands for Virus.

My staff considering pregnancy are advised to be tested for CMV immunity prior to getting pregnant. If they are not immune, they cannot have contact with under 2's whilst pregnant.

[LionsandBears]

It can be congenital if the baby contracts it in utero.

[Pholi]

I think some people are confusing 'congenital' with 'genetic.' Congenital means that you're born with it, so as Lions and Bears says, it could be picked up in utero, or from the birth canal during delivery. Genetic means it's in your genes.

[Muppity]

Thanks everyone - it's given me some more things to google...