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Clinically targeted screening for congenital CMV – potential for integration into the National Hearing Screening Programme
Author(s) -
Kadambari S,
Luck S,
Davis A,
Williams EJ,
Berrington J,
Griffiths PD,
Sharland M
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
acta paediatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/apa.12335
Subject(s) - medicine , pediatrics , sensorineural hearing loss , hearing loss , ganciclovir , intensive care medicine , cytomegalovirus , audiology , viral disease , family medicine , immunology , herpesviridae , virus , human cytomegalovirus , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv)
Screening for a condition should only be undertaken if certain strict criteria are met. Congenital CMV (c CMV ) is a leading cause of sensorineuronal hearing loss ( SNHL ) and meets many of these criteria, but is not currently screened for in the UK . Ganciclovir reduces CMV ‐induced progressive SNHL if treatment is begun in the first month of life. The Newborn Hearing Screening Programme ( NHSP ) has been shown to identify SNHL at the earliest possible age. The potential of integrating screening for c CMV into the NHSP is discussed to consolidate the link between screening, early diagnosis and management. Conclusion The early diagnosis and treatment of c CMV may prevent a small proportion of late SNHL . In the absence of any screening programme, we provide evidence that clinically targeted screening through the NHSP is a potential option in the UK , enhancing the diagnostic pathway and enabling appropriate early treatment to reduce long‐term morbidity.