Table of Contents
- Overview
- Symptoms
- Treatment
- Prevention
- Images
Acute cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a condition caused by a member of the herpesvirus family.
See also:
Alternative Names
CMV mononucleosis; Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
Infection with cytomegalovirus (CMV) is very common. The infection is spread by:
- Blood transfusions
- Organ transplants
- Respiratory droplets
- Saliva
- Sexual contact
- Urine
Most people are exposed to CMV in their lifetime, but typically only individuals with weakened immune systems become ill from CMV infection. Some people with this condition develop a mononucleosis-like syndrome.
In the U.S., CMV infection most commonly develops between ages 10 - 35. Most people are exposed to CMV early in life and do not realize it because they have no symptoms. People with a compromised immune system can have a more severe form of the disease.
Images
Review Date: 09/15/2010
Reviewed By: David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of
General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington
School of Medicine; Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in
Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Assistant in Medicine, Division
of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts
General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical
Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
