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What is CMV?
CMV, or Cytomegalovirus, is a common virus that can infect people of all ages. Once CMV is in a person’s body, it stays there for life. Most healthy adults and children who become infected will have no signs or symptoms and no long term effects from CMV. It can however pose serious risks to unborn babies if a pregnant woman catches it for the first time. Congenital CMV is when a baby has been infected before birth. It is one of the leading causes of hearing loss in children and one of the main causes of childhood disability.
2 to 3
babies everyday will be damaged by CMV
1 in 5
children with the virus will develop permanent problems due to CMV
25%
of child hearing loss is caused by CMV infection
Reducing the Risk
Avoid putting things in your mouth that have just been in a child’s mouth. When possible, try not to share food, cups or cutlery, or put your child’s dummy in your mouth.
Wash any items which may have been in contact with a child’s saliva or urine.
Wash your hands after contact with a child’s urine or saliva. For example, try to make a habit of cleaning your hands after changing a nappy, feeding a child or wiping a child’s nose or mouth.
Wash your hands well for 20 seconds with soap and water. If you do not have access to soap and water, use hand sanitiser.
Avoid getting saliva in your mouth when kissing a child. You can do this by trying to give more kisses on the head, together with a big hug.
Our Recommendations
Advice
Risk reduction advice should be routinely given to pregnant women.
Guidelines
Produce and implement clinical guidelines and pathways for testing, improved diagnosis and management of cCMV.
Targeted Screening
Targeted screening for cCMV in children who fail a newborn hearing test to enable affected children to receive treatment much sooner.
Universal Screening
Universal screening for cCMV to enable affected children to receive treatment much sooner.
Research
Invest in research to support clinical decision making.
Vaccine
Develop a vaccine to end CMV. Eradicate CMV once and for all.
