Premium
Predicting the outcome of symptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus infection
Author(s) -
JONES C. A.,
ISAACS D.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1754.1995.tb00749.x
Subject(s) - medicine , asymptomatic , cytomegalovirus , chorioretinitis , pediatrics , ventriculomegaly , betaherpesvirinae , microcephaly , encephalitis , calcification , cerebrospinal fluid , pregnancy , surgery , herpesviridae , immunology , viral disease , virus , fetus , genetics , biology , ophthalmology
The prognosis of babies with symptomatic congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is worse than for those with asymptomatic CMV, but is difficult to quantify. Babies affected as a result of primary maternal CMV are at greater risk than after reactivation CMV. Chorioretinitis occurs in 10–15% of symptomatic babies and almost always indicates significant mental impairment. Microcephaly occurs in around 50% at birth, but does not always persist, and does not necessarily imply later neurological handicap. Investigative findings that increase the likelihood of handicap include radiographic or computerized tomography scan finding of intracranial calcification and raised cerebrospinal fluid protein. Late deafness is always unpredictable and all babies with congenital CMV infection should have an audiological follow up. The mortality of symptomatic congenital CMV infection is about 30%.