Read condition-specific symptoms and clinical context for Human cytomegalovirus. A common virus that usually stays silent but matters in pregnancy.
CDC describes cytomegalovirus as a common virus that infects people of all ages and, once present, stays in the body for life and can reactivate. A healthy person's immune system usually keeps it from causing illness. Its documented importance is for babies infected before birth and for people with weakened immune systems.
CDC states that most people with CMV show no signs or symptoms and are not aware they have been infected. When infection does cause illness in healthy people, it is usually mild.
Possible symptoms: Fever; Sore throat; Fatigue; Swollen glands.
CDC notes that CMV can occasionally cause mononucleosis or hepatitis, and that people with weakened immunity can have more serious symptoms affecting the eyes, lungs, liver, oesophagus, stomach and intestines.
CDC describes health problems that can be present at birth or develop later when a baby is born with CMV infection. About 1 in 200 babies is born with congenital CMV, and about 1 in 5 of those babies will have birth defects or other long-term health problems.
Possible symptoms: Hearing loss; Brain problems; Liver problems; Spleen problems; Lung problems; Growth problems.
CDC states that saliva or urine tests, not blood, are preferred for newborns with suspected CMV infection and that testing must be done within a specific window after birth. Most babies born with congenital CMV do not develop these problems.
Source check: 2026-09-19. Educational content; independent scientific review remains pending.