what is congenital cmv

Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is a condition in which a newborn baby is infected with CMV, a member of the virus family herpesviridae, during pregnancy. Most affected babies do not show any symptoms, but some may experience health problems such as rash, jaundice, hepatomegaly, retinitis, seizures, and microcephaly. CMV is the most common cause of congenital infection in humans, and approximately 1 in 200 infants is born with congenital CMV infection. The infection is diagnosed by detecting CMV DNA in the infant's urine, saliva, or blood within three weeks after birth. Long-term health problems associated with congenital CMV infection include hearing loss, vision loss, and developmental disabilities