> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.foodconsumer.org/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Cytomegalovirus: Protect Your Baby - URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/cytomegalovirus_protect_your_baby_0602111217/ - Published: 2011-06-02T13:17:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-22T16:22:40.000Z - Description: CMV is the most common congenital infection in the United States, and about 5,500 children a year, or 1 in 750, are born with or develop disabilities from it. A mother infected during pregnancy has as much as a 1-in-3 chance of passing the virus to her baby. - Author: Food Consumer - Tags: Disease, Health News, #vivvo-import In the U.S. more children have disabilities due to congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection than other conditions present at birth. Learn how to protect your baby from CMV. CMV is the most common congenital (present at birth) infection in the U.S. Each year about 5,500 (1 in 750) children in this country are born with or develop disabilities from congenital CMV infection If you're pregnant or planning a pregnancy, the best way to protect your unborn baby from CMV is to protect yourself. ## What is CMV? CMV stands for cytomegalovirus (s?-to-MEG-a-lo-v?-rus). It is a virus that commonly infects people of all ages. Once CMV is in a person's body, it stays there for life. Most of the time people with CMV are not contagious because the virus "hides" inside their body and is not shed in bodily fluids such as urine or saliva. Most people with CMV infection have no symptoms of disease. However, CMV can cause disease in unborn babies when passed from the mother. ## What is congenital CMV infection? When a mother passes CMV to the baby during pregnancy or at birth, the baby is known to have congenital CMV infection. Mothers who become infected with CMV while pregnant have as much as a 1 in 3 chance of passing it to their unborn babies. If a woman is infected with CMV before she becomes pregnant, the risk of passing the virus to her unborn baby is reduced to about 1 in 100\. Overall, about 1 in 150 children is born with congenital CMV infection. This means that each year in the United States about 35,000 children are born with congenital CMV infection. ## How can a baby be harmed by congenital CMV infection? Most children (about 90%) with congenital CMV infection have no symptoms at birth. Of the remaining 10%, symptoms at the time of birth can include: - Small body size - Problems with the liver, spleen, and/or lungs - Jaundice (yellow skin and eyes) - Purple-colored skin patches - Seizures About 20% of infected children with or without symptoms at birth develop permanent health problems in their first few years, such as: - Hearing loss - Vision loss - Intellectual disability - Lack of coordination - Seizures - In rare cases, death Over 5,500 children develop CMV-related disabilities each year. ## How is CMV spread to pregnant women? - The most common way pregnant women become infected is by getting the urine or saliva of a young child in her eyes, nose, or mouth. - Young children are more likely to shed CMV in their bodily fluids than are adults. Once infected, the child may shed the virus through the preschool years. Young children are also more likely to spread their bodily fluids into the environment through drooling, mouthing toys, and wetting their diapers. - Pregnant women can also become infected through sexual contact with an adult who is shedding CMV. ## Pregnant or Planning a Pregnancy? Avoiding contact with urine and saliva – especially from young children – might reduce your chance of getting CMV and passing it along to your unborn baby. Here are a few simple steps you can take to avoid getting urine and saliva in your eyes, nose, or mouth: - Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after: - Changing diapers, feeding a child, wiping a child's nose or drool, handling children's toys, or touching saliva or nasal secretions (snot) - If water is not available, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer - Do not share food, drinks or eating utensils with young children - Do not put a child's pacifier in your mouth - Clean toys, counter tops, and other surfaces that come into contact with children's urine or saliva with common household cleansers ## Is there a test for CMV? [Help Your Pregnant Patients Avoid CMV Infection](http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/728532?ref=foodconsumer.org) Michael Cannon, PhD, MS Yes, blood tests can be done to see if a woman has CMV. However, these tests are not good at predicting whether a baby will be infected with CMV or have health problems. Good hygiene by pregnant women is still the best way to protect unborn babies against CMV. ## Treatment A small number of studies have evaluated the use of medicine to treat newborns with severe congenital CMV disease. These medicines might prevent hearing loss and improve developmental outcomes in these babies. However, because of possible serious side effects, these medicines should only be considered for newborns with severe congenital CMV disease. If your child has congenital CMV, talk with your health care provider about the best course of action. Vaccines for preventing CMV infection are still in the research and development stage. ## Get involved! Be an advocate for healthier babies! ### Send an eCard Know someone who is pregnant? [CMV & Your Pregnancy](http://www2c.cdc.gov/ecards/message/message.asp?cardid=214&category=168&ref=foodconsumer.org). Know someone who is pregnant? [CMV Facts](http://www2c.cdc.gov/ecards/message/message.asp?cardid=215&category=168&ref=foodconsumer.org). Know someone who is thinking about getting pregnant? Send her this [Health-e-Card from CDC](http://www2c.cdc.gov/eCards/message/message.asp?cardid=88&ref=foodconsumer.org). Know someone who is pregnant? Send her this [Health-e-Card from CDC](http://www2c.cdc.gov/eCards/message/message.asp?cardid=89&ref=foodconsumer.org). Know someone who just had a baby? Send her this [Health-e-Card from CDC](http://www2c.cdc.gov/eCards/message/message.asp?cardid=90&ref=foodconsumer.org). ##