s (CDC).Transmission of CMV occurs from person to person. Infection requires close, intimate contact with a person excreting the virus in their saliva, urine, or other bodily fluids. CMV can be sexually transmitted and can also be transmitted via breast milk, transplanted organs, and blood transfusions (CDC). Although the virus is not extremely contagious, it is common for in to spread within households and among children at day care centers. Infection is preventable since most infections is caused by bodily fluids coming into contact with hands which then touch the mouth or nose spreading the virus. This can be prevented by simple washing of the hands with soap and water (CDC). CMV infection is common in infants and children, and most often it shows no symptoms. Because of this, no extraordinary precautions are necessary. Effective hygiene is adequate for the prevention of further transmission of the virus.There is another circumstance in which the CMV virus can cause problems excluding the immunodepressed community. For infants who are infected by their mothers before birth, there are two potential problems. One problem is that a generalized infection may occur. Symptoms may range from enlargement of the liver and spleen to possible death form illness caused by the virus. With treatment, most infants will survive, but 80% to 90% percent will experience complications including hearing loss, vision loss, and mental retardation. Around 5% to 10% of infants who are infected but show no symptoms will experience varying degrees of hearing and mental loss and coordination problems (CDC).Most infections of CMV never diagnosed because they cause no symptoms and present no problems, however within the HIV/immunodepressed community the infection is diagnosed using serologic testing (CDC). The earlier it is detected the more effective the treatment (Medscape).Currently, no treatment exists for CMV infection in the healthy individual...
