Symptoms

Most healthy people who are infected with CMV may experience no symptoms. Some experience minor symptoms. People who are more likely to experience signs and symptoms of CMV include:

• Newborns who became infected with CMV before they were born (congenital CMV).
• Infants who become infected during birth or shortly afterward (perinatal CMV). This group includes babies infected through breast milk.
• People who have weakened immune systems, such as those who have had an organ, bone marrow or stem cell transplant, or those who are infected with HIV.

Babies

Most babies who have congenital CMV appear healthy at birth.

A few babies who have congenital CMV who appear healthy at birth develop signs over time — sometimes not for months or years after birth. The most common of these late-occurring signs are hearing loss and developmental delay. A small number of babies may also develop vision problems.

The following signs and symptoms are more common in babies who have congenital CMV and who are sick at birth:

• Premature birth
• Low birth weight
• Yellow skin and eyes (jaundice)
• Enlarged and poorly functioning liver
• Purple skin splotches or a rash or both
• Abnormally small head (microencephaly)
• Enlarged spleen
• Pneumonia
• Seizures

People who have weakened immunity

If your immune system is weakened, you might experience serious problems that affect your:

• Eyes
• Lungs
• Liver
• Esophagus
• Stomach
• Intestines
• Brain

Healthy adults

Most people who are infected with CMV who are otherwise healthy experience few if any symptoms. When first infected, some adults may have symptoms similar to infectious mononucleosis, including:

• Fatigue
• Fever
• Sore throat
• Muscle aches

When to see a doctor

See your doctor if:

• You have a weakened immune system and you're experiencing symptoms of CMV infection. For people who have weakened immune systems, CMV infection can be serious or even fatal. People who have undergone stem cell or organ transplants seem to be at greatest risk.
• You develop a mononucleosis-like illness while you're pregnant.

If you have CMV but are otherwise healthy, and you're experiencing any mild, generalized illness, you could be in a reactivation period. Self-care, such as getting plenty of rest, should be enough for your body to control the infection.

When your child should see a doctor

If you know you were infected with CMV during your pregnancy, tell your baby's doctor. The doctor will likely assess your baby for hearing or vision problems.