Learn About Congenital Cytomegalovirus
Congenital cytomegalovirus is a condition that can occur when an infant is infected with a virus called cytomegalovirus (CMV) before birth. Congenital means the condition is present at birth.
CMV - congenital; Congenital CMV; Cytomegalovirus - congenital
Congenital CMV occurs when an infected mother passes CMV to the fetus through the placenta. The mother may not have symptoms, so she may be unaware that she has CMV.
Most children with congenital CMV do not have symptoms. Those who do have symptoms may have:
- Inflammation of the retina
- Yellow skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice)
- Large spleen and liver
- Low birth weight
- Mineral deposits in the brain
- Rash at birth
- Seizures
- Small head size
There is no specific treatment for congenital CMV. Treatments focus on specific problems, such as physical therapy and appropriate education for children with delayed physical movements.
Treatment with antiviral medicines is often used for infants with neurologic (nervous system) symptoms. This treatment may reduce hearing loss later in the child's life.
Mark Schleiss is a Pediatrics specialist and an Infectious Disease provider in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Dr. Schleiss is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Congenital Cytomegalovirus. His top areas of expertise are Congenital Cytomegalovirus, Cytomegalovirus Infection, Cytomegalic Inclusion Disease, Sepsis, and Myringotomy. Dr. Schleiss is currently accepting new patients.
Gail Demmler is a Pediatric Infectious Disease specialist and a Pediatrics provider in Houston, Texas. Dr. Demmler is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Congenital Cytomegalovirus. Her top areas of expertise are Congenital Cytomegalovirus, Herpes Simplex Encephalitis, Microcephaly, and Microcephaly Deafness Syndrome. Dr. Demmler is currently accepting new patients.
Pablo Sanchez is a Neonatologist and a Pediatrics provider in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Sanchez is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Congenital Cytomegalovirus. His top areas of expertise are Neonatal Herpes, Congenital Cytomegalovirus, Congenital Syphilis, and Premature Infant. Dr. Sanchez is currently accepting new patients.
Most infants who have symptoms of their infection at birth will have neurologic abnormalities later in life. Most infants without symptoms at birth will NOT have these problems.
Some children may die while they are still an infant.
Complications may include:
- Difficulty with physical activities and movement
- Vision problems or blindness
- Deafness
Have your baby checked right away if a provider did not examine your baby shortly after birth, and you suspect your baby has:
- A small head
- Other symptoms of congenital CMV
If your baby has congenital CMV, it is important to follow your provider's recommendations for well-baby examinations. That way, any growth and development problems can be identified early and treated promptly.
CMV is almost everywhere in the environment. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend the following steps to reduce the spread of CMV:
- Wash hands with soap and water after touching diapers or saliva.
- Avoid kissing children under the age of 6 on the mouth or cheek.
- Do not share food, drinks, or eating utensils with young children.
- Pregnant women working in a day care center should work with children older than age 2½.
Summary: This is a Phase 1 single-arm open-label study of letermovir in neonates with symptomatic congenital Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease. There will be two groups enrolled. Group 1 will be comprised of 4 subjects. Following documentation study inclusion and signing of informed consent, Group 1 subjects will receive one dose of oral letermovir (Study Day 0), using the dose bands. A full pharmacokinetics (...
Summary: Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is the most common congenital infection with a birth prevalence of 0.4% in Europe. It is the leading non-genetic cause of sensorineural hearing loss and a major cause of neurodevelopmental disabilities. The risk of intrauterine transmission is highest when primary infection occurs during pregnancy. Primary CMV infection is asymptomatic or causes non-speci...
Published Date: April 06, 2025
Published By: Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Beckham JD, Solbrig MV, Tyler KL. Viral encephalitis and meningitis. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 78.
Britt WJ. Cytomegalovirus. In: Blaser MJ. Cohen JI, Holland SM, et al, eds. Mandell, Douglas, and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2026:chap 144.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and congenital CMV infection: about cytomegalovirus. www.cdc.gov/cytomegalovirus/about/index.html. Updated January 17, 2025. Accessed May 6, 2025.
Permar SR, Mohr EL. Congenital and perinatal infections. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 149.