Congenital cytomegalovirus

Alternative names:

CMV - congenital; congenital CMV

Definition:

A cluster of findings associated with infection of the fetus by cytomegalovirus.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Congenital cytomegalovirus is caused when an infected mother passes CMV virus to the fetus through the placenta. The mother's illness may be subclinical (without symptoms or asymptomatic), and she may be unaware that any problems exist. The affected infant is characteristically born with a petechial rash (a rash that looks like fine purplish-colored dots), a large spleen and liver, jaundice, inflammation of the retina, intracranial calcifications (mineral deposits within the brain), and a small head (microcephaly). Only about 1 out of 10 infants congenitally infected with CMV are thought to exhibit these symptoms.