If a woman becomes infected with cytomegalovirus during pregnancy (perinatal infection), half of the cases result in infection of the unborn child. However, almost all children (90%) are asymptomatic at birth, that is, there are no symptoms. However, up to ten percent of newborns show the following symptoms.
- Low birth weight/insufficient weight development.
- Lymphadenopathy (swelling of the lymph nodes)
- Icterus (jaundice)
- Skin rash
- Petechiae (skin bleeding)
- Hepatosplenomegaly – enlargement of the liver and spleen.
- Blood clotting disorders
- Increased transaminases alanine aminotransferase (ALT, GPT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST, GOT) – liver values in the blood.
- Thrombocytopenia – too few 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 and retina of the eye.
- Microcephaly – abnormal dwarfism of the head.
However, it is not possible to infer from the symptoms an assignment to the stage of pregnancy at which the infection occurred, as is possible with many other infectious diseases.
If the infection occurs during birth (perinatal), the disease progresses without symptoms in mature newborns.
