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How To Rule Out A Cytomegalovirus Infection?
Question: CMV question. I have a 5 year old and Tonight she accidentally spit in my face and i felt some saliva on my lips . I am 6 wks pregnant . Is CMV a worry here?
Brief Answer:
Rare chance
Detailed Answer:
Hi dear,
I have gone through your question and understand your concerns.
Does your child has CMV infection currently or had in the past?
Is she/ he exposed to someone who is CMV infected?
If the answers to above questions is no, then there is no risk of CMV infection.
That being said, my first step would be to check CMV blood test- IgG and IgM after 2-3 weeks. I would only be concerned if you are tested positive as there are high chances of fetal affection. CMV infection can cause hepatomegaly, central nervous system involvement like microcephaly, retinitis, liver calcification and intrauterine growth retardation. So, if you are tested positive, then you should consult a fetal medicine specialist so that you can be counselled and a detailed anomaly scan can be done at 18-20 weeks.
If required, amniocentesis or chordocentesis can be done to detect fetal infection.
In a nutshell, assuming your child had no previous CMV infection or had an exposure to it, your risks of acquiring it is remote. However it would be worthwhile to test blood samples and confirm.
Hope you found the answer helpful. Please do get back for further queries.
Wishing you good health.
Regards
Dr Deepti Verma
Rare chance
Detailed Answer:
Hi dear,
I have gone through your question and understand your concerns.
Does your child has CMV infection currently or had in the past?
Is she/ he exposed to someone who is CMV infected?
If the answers to above questions is no, then there is no risk of CMV infection.
That being said, my first step would be to check CMV blood test- IgG and IgM after 2-3 weeks. I would only be concerned if you are tested positive as there are high chances of fetal affection. CMV infection can cause hepatomegaly, central nervous system involvement like microcephaly, retinitis, liver calcification and intrauterine growth retardation. So, if you are tested positive, then you should consult a fetal medicine specialist so that you can be counselled and a detailed anomaly scan can be done at 18-20 weeks.
If required, amniocentesis or chordocentesis can be done to detect fetal infection.
In a nutshell, assuming your child had no previous CMV infection or had an exposure to it, your risks of acquiring it is remote. However it would be worthwhile to test blood samples and confirm.
Hope you found the answer helpful. Please do get back for further queries.
Wishing you good health.
Regards
Dr Deepti Verma
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Should I get a CmV test or no?
Brief Answer:
3 weeks after the exposure
Detailed Answer:
Hi dear,
to be on safer side, you should go for CMV IgM and IgG test 3 weeks after the exposure to saliva.
Regards
Dr Deepti Verma
3 weeks after the exposure
Detailed Answer:
Hi dear,
to be on safer side, you should go for CMV IgM and IgG test 3 weeks after the exposure to saliva.
Regards
Dr Deepti Verma
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Dr. Deepti Verma
OBGYN, Maternal and Fetal Medicine
Practicing since :2009
Answered : 5064 Questions
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