Cytomegalovirus, what consequences for the pregnant woman and the baby?
Cytomegalovirus is a virus of the family of herpes. Although he is often asymptomatic, he is responsible for many cases of congenital anomalies.
Anyone in good health can catch this virus without realizing it. It then goes unnoticed or is manifested by mild disorders: sore throat, fever ... Then, he moved to the patient throughout his life, without him realizing it. The virus then remains "latency".
However, the infected person may contaminate others. Transmission occurs through body secretions: urine, saliva, blood, tear, semen, breast milk. But if the infection is not serious, it can be dangerous for the fetus.
What risks does the baby ?
At the future mum non-immune, cytomegalovirus can be very destructive. On her, he goes almost unnoticed. Depending on the case, the virus causes significant fatigue that is similar to mononucleosis or causes flu-like pain.
The baby Infected individuals may have low weight, convulsions, deafness, visual impairment or mental retardation.
Rest assured, cytomegalovirus infection does not affect all children, and some will have the chance to escape even with a mum infected, especially thanks to the barrier of the placenta. Thus, two-thirds of newborns are not affected by the virus. And only 10 to 15% of the remaining third will have symptoms after delivery.
Some precautions to take
At the beginning of pregnancy, blood tests make it possible to know if the future mum is immune to this virus. It is estimated on average that in our country, 60% of women are already protected.
If it is not, it should limit contact with potentially infected people such as children infants schooled in nursery where the exchanges of microbes are numerous. By washing your hands frequently, by not mixing the cutlery, and not kissing the toddler on the mouth, the risk of infection with cytomegalovirus will thus be limited to the maximum.
Anyone in good health can catch this virus without realizing it. It then goes unnoticed or is manifested by mild disorders: sore throat, fever ... Then, he moved to the patient throughout his life, without him realizing it. The virus then remains "latency".
However, the infected person may contaminate others. Transmission occurs through body secretions: urine, saliva, blood, tear, semen, breast milk. But if the infection is not serious, it can be dangerous for the fetus.
What risks does the baby ?
At the future mum non-immune, cytomegalovirus can be very destructive. On her, he goes almost unnoticed. Depending on the case, the virus causes significant fatigue that is similar to mononucleosis or causes flu-like pain.
The baby Infected individuals may have low weight, convulsions, deafness, visual impairment or mental retardation.
Rest assured, cytomegalovirus infection does not affect all children, and some will have the chance to escape even with a mum infected, especially thanks to the barrier of the placenta. Thus, two-thirds of newborns are not affected by the virus. And only 10 to 15% of the remaining third will have symptoms after delivery.
Some precautions to take
At the beginning of pregnancy, blood tests make it possible to know if the future mum is immune to this virus. It is estimated on average that in our country, 60% of women are already protected.
If it is not, it should limit contact with potentially infected people such as children infants schooled in nursery where the exchanges of microbes are numerous. By washing your hands frequently, by not mixing the cutlery, and not kissing the toddler on the mouth, the risk of infection with cytomegalovirus will thus be limited to the maximum.
