In 80% cases, infection of immunocompetent pregnant women with human cytomegalovirus (HVMV) is asymptomatic, that is, without causing symptoms.Approximately 20% of pregnant women present with flu– or mononucleosis-like symptoms. Maternofetal transmission risk for HCMV as a function of time of primary maternal infection.
| Timing of maternal primary infection(maternal first infection). | Transmission risk (%)(risk of transmission from mother to fetus) |
| 3-12 weeks preconceptional | 9 |
| 3 weeks periconceptional | 31-45 |
| First trimester (third trimester of pregnancy) | 30-42 |
| Second trimester | 38-45 |
| Third trimester | 64-77 |
The following symptoms and complaints may indicate infection with cytomegalovirus:
Neonates with symptomatic congenital infection
Notice:
- Only about 10% of congenitally (“congenitally”) infected newborns are symptomatic at birth.
- Even asymptomatic newborns develop late damage in 10-15% of cases.
Congenital malformations, deformities, and chromosomal abnormalities (Q00-Q99).
- Microencephaly (30-53%) – abnormal small stature of the head.
Respiratory system (J00-J99)
- Pneumonia (pneumonia)
Eyes and eye appendages (H00-H59).
- Chorioretinitis – inflammation of the choroid (choroid) with retinal (retina) involvement.
Blood-forming organs – immune system (D50-D90).
- Petechiae (41-76%) – punctate bleeding of the skin or mucous membrane.
- Thrombocytopenia (77-81%) – deficiency of platelets/platelets.
Skin and subcutaneous (L00-L99).
- “blue-berry muffin spots” – skin lesions often characterized by efflorescences shimmering through the skin like blueberries
Mouth, esophagus (food pipe), stomach, and intestines (K00-K67; K90-K93).
- Enteritis (inflammation of the intestine)
Musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (M00-M99).
- Lenticulo-striatal vasculopathy (71-88%) -.
Ears – mastoid process (H60-H95).
- Hearing disorders (26-42%)
Psyche – nervous system (F00-F99; G00-G99)
- Migration disorders of the cnetral nervous system.
- Cerebral seizures
Pregnancy, childbirth and puerperium (O00-O99)
- Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR; impaired growth) (30-50%).
Symptoms and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings not elsewhere classified (R00-R99)
- Aspartate aminotransferase (AST; GOT) ↑ (76%).
- Hyperbilirubinemia, conjugated (81%) – elevated bilirubin.
- Icterus (jaundice) (67%).
Symptoms that may indicate prenatal infection (occur with infection in the first trimester (third trimester) in 20% of pregnancies, in the second trimester in about 6%):
- Low birth weight/insufficient weight development.
- Lymphadenopathy (lymph node enlargement).
- Icterus (jaundice)
- Exanthem (skin rash)
- Petechiae (punctate bleeding of the skin or mucous membrane).
- Hepatosplenomegaly (enlargement of the liver and spleen).
- Blood clotting disorders
- Liver parameters – elevated transaminases: Alanine aminotransferase (ALT, GPT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST, GOT).
- Thrombocytopenia – deficiency of platelets / platelets.
- Hemolysis – dissolution of erythrocytes (red blood cells) in the blood.
- Growth retardation in uteri (in the uterus).
- Premature birth
- Inguinal hernia (inguinal hernia)
- Chorioretinitis – inflammation of the choroid (choroid) with retinal (retina) involvement.
- Microcephaly – abnormal dwarfism of the head.
Peri- and postnatal infection with cytomegalovirus is also usually asymptomatic. However, in a few cases, the following symptoms may occur:
- Lymphadenitis (lymphadenitis) with lymphadenopathy (lymph node enlargement).
- General feeling of illness
- Cephalgia (headache)
- Myalgia (muscle pain)
- Pharyngitis (pharyngitis)
- Hepatitis (liver inflammation)
- Fever
- Parotitis (inflammation of the salivary glands)
- Panuveitis – inflammation of the middle eye skin.
- Retinitis (CMV retinitis) (retinitis).
Symptoms of cytomegalovirus infection in individuals with immunodeficiency (immune deficiency) include:
- Fever (often not very high)
- Dyspnea (shortness of breath)
- Cough (rather dry)
- General feeling of illness
- Anorexia (loss of appetite)
- Fatigue
- Night sweats (night sweats)
- Arthralgia (joint pain)
- Myalgia (muscle pain)
- Tachypnea – breathing too fast.
