If the baby is infected with the cytomegalovirus in pregnancy, he may be born with symptoms such as deafness or mental retardation. In this case, treatment for cytomegalovirus in the baby can be done with antiviral drugs and the main objective is to prevent deafness.
Cytomegalovirus infection is more common during pregnancy but can also happen during delivery or after birth if people close to you are infected.
Symptoms of cytomegalovirus infection
The baby who was infected with cytomegalovirus in pregnancy may have the following symptoms:
- Decreased growth and intrauterine development; Small red spots on the skin; Enlarged spleen and liver; Yellowish skin and eyes; Little brain growth (microcephaly); Calcifications in the brain; Low amount of platelets in the blood; Deafness.
The presence of cytomegalovirus in the baby can be discovered through its presence in saliva or urine in the first 3 weeks of life. If the virus is found after the 4th week of life, it indicates that the contamination happened after birth.
Necessary exams
The baby who has cytomegalovirus must be accompanied by a pediatrician and needs to be checked regularly so that any changes can be treated immediately. Some important tests are the hearing test that must be performed at birth and at 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30 and 36 months of life. Next, hearing should be assessed every 6 months up to 6 years of age.
Computed tomography should be performed at birth and if there are any changes, the pediatrician can request others, according to the need for evaluation. MRI and X-rays are not necessary.
How to treat congenital cytomegalovirus
The treatment of the baby that is born with cytomegalovirus can be done with the use of antiviral drugs such as Ganciclovir or Valganciclovir and should begin shortly after birth.
These drugs should only be used in babies where the infection is confirmed or have symptoms involving the Central Nervous System such as intracranial calcifications, microcephaly, changes in cerebrospinal fluid, deafness or chorioretinitis.
The treatment time with these drugs is approximately 6 weeks and as they can alter various functions in the body, it is necessary to perform tests such as blood count and urine almost daily and the examination of the CSF on the first and last day of treatment.
These tests are necessary to assess whether it is necessary to decrease the dose or even stop the use of medications.
