Sunday, February, 12, 2012

CMV - gastroenteritis/colitis

Table of Contents

Alternative Names

Colitis - cytomegalovirus; Gastroenteritis - cytomegalovirus; Gastrointestinal CMV disease


Symptoms

Gastrointestinal CMV disease may affect one area or the entire body. Ulcers can occur in the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, or colon. Such ulcers are associated with symptoms such as:

  • Abdominal pain
  • Difficulty swallowing or pain with swallowing
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting

When the intestines are involved, the ulcers may cause:

  • Abdominal pain
  • Bloody stools
  • Diarrhea
  • Fever
  • Weight loss

More severe infections can result in gastrointestinal bleeding or a hole through the wall of the bowel.


Signs and tests

Tests that may be done include:

  • Barium enema
  • Colonoscopy
  • Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD)
  • Stool culture to rule out other causes of infection
  • Upper GI and small bowel series

Laboratory tests will be done on a sample of tissue taken from your stomach or intestine. The tests, such as a gastric or intestinal tissue culture or biopsy, determine if the virus is in the tissue.

A CMV serology test is done to look for the virus in your blood.


Review Date: 04/18/2010
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine; George F Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San Diego, California. 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)