Cytomegalovirus Infection

Cytomegalovirus infection is caused by cytomegalovirus, a common virus found in people of all ages. In the United States nearly 1 in 3 children is already infected by age 5, and over half of adults have been infected by age 40. Once in the body the virus stays for life and can reactivate, and a person can also be re-infected with a different strain. Most people show no signs or symptoms; in healthy people it can cause mild illness such as fever, sore throat, fatigue and swollen glands, and occasionally mononucleosis or hepatitis. People with a weakened immune system can have more serious symptoms affecting the eyes, lungs, liver, esophagus, stomach and intestines. Babies born with it can have brain, liver, spleen, lung and growth problems, and hearing loss is the most common long-term problem.