Cytomegalovirus (CMV) in Newborns: Prevention, Screening, and Treatment
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common virus. Anyone at any age can get CMV, and most healthy people don’t show any signs or symptoms or know they have been infected. In fact, an estimated 80% of Americans will be infected with the virus before they turn 40. Many people with CMV never have symptoms. Others may mistake it for the flu or common cold. But when it is passed to a developing child during pregnancy, congenital CMV (cCMV) can cause serious health problems at birth and later in life.
Congenital CMV is a leading cause of hearing loss and other birth defects in the United States. One in every 200 babies is born with CMV. But only a third of CMV infections during pregnancy pass on to the developing child, and catching the virus does not always harm a baby. About 1 in 5 babies with congenital CMV will have birth defects or other long-term health problems.
CMV spreads from person to person, usually through direct contact with bodily fluids like mucus, saliva, tears, and urine.
It is especially easy for adults to catch the virus from healthy toddlers and young children. Kids pass the virus to their peers and loved ones at school, during playdates, and at home.
In the United States, nearly 1 in 3 children is already infected with CMV by age 5.
Practicing good hygiene is a simple, effective way to help prevent the spread of CMV. To lower your chances of catching the virus, follow these simple tips:
- Kiss children on the forehead or cheek instead of their lips.
- Do not share food or drinks, utensils, or straws with children.
- Wash your hands after contact with a child’s bodily fluids.
- Use soap and water to keep toys and surfaces clean.
Many babies born with CMV show no signs or symptoms and never develop health problems due to infection. But 1 in 5 babies with congenital CMV will experience birth defects or developmental challenges later in life. That is why it is important to know the early signs of congenital CMV.
Hearing loss is the most common health problem in babies born with CMV. Other signs and symptoms include:
- An unexplained premature birth.
- A small head and/or body for their age.
- A skin rash or jaundice.
- Vision loss.
- Liver, spleen, or lung issues.
- Broken blood vessels and/or bleeding problems.
- Seizures.
If signs are recognized, a simple urine or saliva test is usually all it takes to confirm if a baby has congenital CMV. But, for congenital CMV to be diagnosed, the test must be taken within the first three weeks of life.
There are many effective therapies that can help children diagnosed with CMV-related health problems at birth and later in life.
Health care providers will monitor your child’s development and can explain the latest treatment options. These may include rehabilitation therapies, assistive devices, and more.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS) connects people, communities, and partners with information and resources that can help prevent birth defects. DHS also offers supports for children with special needs and their families.
Initiatives like the Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Program and the Birth Defect Prevention and Surveillance Program help make this work possible.
Similarly, the Cytomegalovirus Wisconsin Screening Prevention and Early Recognition (CMV WiSPER) Project strives to protect the public from the harms of CMV through education, prevention, and early detection. Developed in partnership with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Pediatrics in 2024, the CMV WiSPER Project aims to:
- Reduce the transmission of CMV to pregnant people.
- Identify newborns without symptoms.
- Improve early recognition of symptomatic congenital CMV and the complications of CMV in otherwise well-appearing infants.
To accomplish these goals, the project plans to:
- Establish and convene a statewide taskforce on congenital CMV.
- Gather input from individuals and agencies with professional experience and lived experience with congenital CMV.
- Develop and share best practices for newborn screening and follow up, as well as audiological follow up for CMV positive babies.
- Promote community outreach and education regarding congenital CMV prevention and screening.
- Outline gap areas and next steps for implementing high-quality, systemic congenital CMV screening statewide.
Learn more about Wisconsin's Newborn Screening Program.
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