Congenital CMV

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What are Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Congenital Cytomegalovirus (cCMV)?

CMV: Is a very common virus that can infect people of all ages.

  • Most healthy people who get CMV don’t feel sick.
  • It spreads through bodily fluids such as saliva (spit), urine, and breast milk.
  • Cytomegalovirus is pronounced: sy-toe-MEG-a-low-vy-rus.

cCMV: Happens when a pregnant person unknowingly catches the virus and passes it to their unborn baby.

  • According to the Centers for Disease Control and prevention (CDC) about 1 in 5 babies born with cCMV will experience long-term health issues.
  • It is the leading non-genetic cause of hearing loss in newborns.
  • “Congenital” means a health condition that is present at or from birth, which may have developed during pregnancy in the womb.

 

How cCMV can affect a baby

According to CDC, Health problems might show up at birth, develop later during childhood, or never appear at all.

Signs that may be present at birth:

  • Skin rash
  • Jaundice (yellow skin or eyes)
  • Small Head sized (Microcephaly)
  • Low birth weight
  • Enlarged liver and spleen
  • Seizures
  • Eye damage (Retinitis)

Long-term disabilities or problems can include:

  • Hearing loss
  • Delays in learning to walk or move
  • Vision loss
  • Trouble learning
  • Small Head sized (Microcephaly)
  • Severe illness or death (in rare cases)

 

How to prevent CMV during pregnancy

According to the National CMV Foundation: CMV is spread from one person to another, usually by contact with bodily fluids, including spit and urine. Contact with the saliva or urine of young children is a major cause of CMV infection among pregnant people (especially those with kids in daycare), daycare workers, and childcare providers. People who are pregnant, or plan to become pregnant, or who have close contact with young children should practice the following habits:

  • Wash your hands with soap and water for 15 to 20 seconds after changing diapers, wiping noses, or touching toys.
  • Do not share food, drinks, forks, or spoons with young children.
  • Do not put a child's pacifier in your mouth.
  • Do not share toothbrushes.
  • Avoid kissing children on the mouth to stay away from saliva.
  • Clean surfaces and toys that might have spit or urine on them.

Note: Daycare workers, teachers, and pediatric nurses are at a higher risk of catching CMV because they work closely with young kids.

How doctors find and treat cCMV

  • The Heel Stick: A small blood sample from the baby's heel at birth to screen for cCMV.
  • Follow-Up Test: If the Heel Stick test is positive for cCMV, or the baby fails their newborn hearing screening, another test is strongly recommended to confirm the cCMV diagnosis. This should be a Urine-PCR test, and it should be completed prior to 21 days of age to determine if it is CMV or cCMV. This affects treatment options. Contact your pediatrician or birth facility for more information on how to get this test.
  • Specialist Care: If a baby has cCMV, parents should schedule checkups with hearing doctors (audiologists), eye doctors, and infectious disease specialists (see below).
  • Medicines: Certain treatments may be available for babies who show signs of the infection at birth. It is extremely important to have your baby tested for cCMV before 21 days of age because it affects treatment options. Contact your baby’s doctor or infectious disease doctor (see below) for treatment information.

 

What should you do if your baby is diagnosed with cCMV?

Since cCMV can cause hearing and vision problems over time, your child should have regular hearing and eye checkups. Talk to your baby's doctor right away. Ask for referrals to the right specialists, including:

  • An infectious disease doctor:

Connecticut Children’s Medical Center
 Infectious Diseases and Immunology
Hartford, CT (860) 545-9490

Yale New Haven Children's Hospital
 Pediatric Infectious Diseases
New Haven, CT (877) 925-3637

 

  • An audiologist (hearing doctor):

Connecticut Children's Medical Center
Hartford, Farmington, or Glastonbury, CT. (860) 545-9642 or (860) 837-6300

Lawrence & Memorial Hospital
Waterford, CT. (860) 271-4900

UCONN., Speech & Hearing Clinic
Storrs, CT. (860) 486-2629

Yale New Haven Children‛s Hospital
New Haven or Trumbull, CT. (877) 925-3637

  • An ophthalmologist (eye doctor)
  • Birth to Three (B23): The Connecticut Office of Early Childhood provides free evaluations, developmental support, and therapy services for infants and toddlers under the age three who have developmental delays or specific medical conditions. Children with hearing loss and congenital Cytomegalovirus may be eligible for free service. Please call 1-800-505-7000 or 211.

Connecticut testing law

Effective July 1, 2025, testing for congenital Cytomegalovirus (cCMV) becomes mandatory for all babies born in Connecticut, per C.G.S. Sec. 19a-55.

Additional Information