Symptoms and treatment of cytomegalovirus infection in children. Manifestation and treatment of cytomegalovirus infection in children Why cytomegalovirus is dangerous for a child

Data May 21 ● Comments 0 ● Views

Doctor   Maria Nikolaeva  

Cytomegalovirus infection is one of those infections that a person encounters in early age. It is caused by a virus from the herpes family, under the influence of which specific changes occur in all tissues and organs. Cytomegalovirus in children can be congenital or acquired - clinical picture these forms vary significantly.

If a child's blood test reveals antibodies to cytomegalovirus, this means that he has been infected with this infection. Often the disease is asymptomatic, so it is difficult to determine the moment of infection.

After entering the body, the pathogen invades the cells. This causes the development of an inflammatory process and dysfunction of the affected organ. Cytomegalovirus causes general intoxication, disrupts the blood clotting process, and suppresses the functioning of the adrenal cortex. The main location of cytomegalovirus is salivary glands. In the blood, the pathogen infects lymphocytes and monocytes.

The nature of the disease depends on several factors:

• age;
• state immune status child;
• the presence of concomitant pathology.

Often, cytomegalovirus fixes itself in cells and becomes dormant without causing any symptoms. Activation of the virus occurs when conditions favorable to it arise - first of all, this is a decrease in the body's resistance. This will determine how to treat cytomegalovirus infection in children.

Some useful facts about CMVI:

• an inactive virus located in cells cannot be treated with medication, a person remains its carrier forever;
• in children older cytomegalovirus causes mild acute respiratory infections;
• most dangerous in newborns and children with reduced immunity;
• Diagnosis of inactive CMV infection is quite difficult;
• low immunity contributes to the generalization of the infectious process.

Detection of CMV in children is not always an indication for emergency treatment. Therapy is prescribed only if clinical symptoms are obvious.

Cytomegalovirus detected - what to do?

Causes of the disease in children

The cause of the disease is infection with a pathogen called cytomegalovirus. It is a member of the herpesvirus family. The virus is widespread throughout the globe and is easily transmitted between people. Therefore, a person becomes infected with the infection in the first years of life. The most sensitive to cytomegalovirus are fetuses during intrauterine development and newborns.

Cytomegalovirus appears in a child upon contact with any biological fluids. The spread of the virus occurs through airborne droplets and contact. You can also become infected through a transfusion. infected blood. In utero, the fetus becomes infected when the virus passes through the placenta or during childbirth. Infection with cytomegalovirus in children under one year of age occurs through breast milk. The pathogen is very resistant to environment. It dies under the influence of high temperatures or freezing, and is sensitive to alcohol.

How does cytomegalovirus manifest itself?

Flow cytomegalovirus infection the child has a cyclical incubation period, height, recovery period. The infection can be localized and generalized, congenital and acquired. Also, an infectious disease in a child is often asymptomatic. Clinically, cytomegalovirus manifests itself in 30-40% of children.

The incubation period of cytomegalovirus infection is variable - from 15 days to 3 months. During this period there are no signs of illness, but the baby is already a source of cytomegalovirus infection.

Symptoms of cytomegalovirus

Congenital and acquired CMV in children - what is the difference?

The difference between congenital and acquired forms of CMV in children is in the nature of the course. The congenital form of the disease occurs in a generalized manner. Acquired cytomegalovirus is characterized by damage to one of the body systems, less often it is generalized. CMV is most dangerous for a baby in its generalized form.

Congenital

Congenital cytomegaly is characterized by intrauterine infection of the fetus. Infection occurs through the placenta during acute or chronic CMV infection in the mother. The virus is localized in salivary glands ah fruit. Here it multiplies, enters the blood and causes a generalized process. The congenital disease occurs in 0.3-3% of newborns. The risk of CMV infection of a fetus from a sick mother is 30-40%.

If infection occurs in the first trimester of pregnancy, the outcome is fetal death and spontaneous miscarriage. Less often, the fetus remains viable, but it develops numerous malformations:

• central nervous system– microcephaly (underdevelopment of the brain) or hydrocephalus (accumulation of fluid in the brain tissue) develops;
• the cardiovascular system- various birth defects hearts;
• gastrointestinal tract – underdevelopment of the liver and intestines.

If infection occurs in the second half of pregnancy, the baby is born without malformations. Symptoms of the disease in this case:

• jaundice – persists for two months;
• enlarged liver and spleen;
• pneumonia;
• intestinal inflammation.

The baby is born premature, with low body weight. There is inhibition of reflexes, sucking and swallowing processes. The baby's condition with congenital cytomegalovirus infection is serious. There is persistent fever and lack of appetite. The child is lethargic, grows poorly and hardly gains weight. There is darkening of the urine, light loose stool. Dotted hemorrhages appear on the skin.

The acute course of cytomegalovirus disease leads to the death of the baby within several weeks.

The most common manifestations of congenital CMV infection:

• hemorrhagic rash – 76%;
• yellowness of the skin – 67%;
• enlargement of the liver and spleen – 60%;
• underdevelopment of the brain – 52%;
• low body weight – 48%;
• hepatitis – 20%;
• encephalitis – 15%;
• defeat optic nerve – 12%.

Table. Manifestations of CMV depending on the period of intrauterine infection.

The most common manifestation of CMV infection in children is hepatitis. Occurs in icteric or anicteric forms. The latter is characterized by scanty clinical symptoms, the child’s condition is satisfactory. In the icteric form, hepatosplenomegaly and moderate staining are noted skin, dark urine and light feces.

Rarely, the outcome of hepatitis is the formation of biliary cirrhosis, from which children die in the second year of life.

Pneumonia ranks second after hepatitis. Characterized by increased body temperature, cough with sputum. Children experience shortness of breath on exertion and at rest. A feature of pneumonia caused by cytomegalovirus is its protracted course.

Retinitis is damage to the optic nerve by cytomegalovirus. Characterized by decreased vision, spots and color spots before your eyes. The baby has photophobia and lacrimation.

Sialadenitis is a lesion of the salivary glands. It manifests itself as fever, pain in the cheeks and ears, and difficulty swallowing.

Acquired

Infection of a baby occurs at the time of birth, or in the following days and months through contact with a sick person or a virus carrier. Generalization of the process occurs very rarely. The disease in this case is nonspecific - a rise in temperature, enlarged lymph nodes, signs of inflammation of the tonsils. Possible stool upset and abdominal pain. Appetite worsens and increased salivation is noted.

More often, a localized form of infection is observed - with damage to any one system of the body:

• respiratory – development severe pneumonia(cough, shortness of breath, profuse sputum);
• intestinal damage by cytomegalovirus - diarrhea, nausea, vomiting;
• urinary system - lower back pain, changes in urine analysis.

The disease lasts a long time and is accompanied by high temperature. The diagnosis is quite difficult to make.

In children of the first three years In life, several clinical options for the course of the disease are possible:

• sialadenitis – damage to the salivary glands;
• interstitial pneumonia;
• acute nephritis – kidney damage;
• acute intestinal infection;
• hepatitis;
• encephalitis with damage to the optic nerve, convulsive syndrome.

In older children, with already formed immunity, CMV disease proceeds as an acute respiratory disease with a mild course:

• moderate increase in temperature;
• malaise;
• enlarged lymph nodes in the neck;
• sore throat.

Recovery occurs within 7-10 days without the development of complications.

If infection occurs through breast milk, the baby will only become ill with a latent form of infection, which is mild. This is due to the fact that with milk, children also receive specific immunoglobulin, which protects them from viral and bacterial infections.

Children attending organized child care institutions receive cytomegalovirus through saliva. This is usually implemented by airborne droplets.

Diagnostics

The diagnosis is made on the basis of the clinical picture, epidemiological history, and laboratory test results. Since the clinical picture is nonspecific and similar to many other diseases, mandatory laboratory diagnosis is required to confirm CMV infection.

The diagnosis is considered confirmed if either the virus itself or antibodies to it were detected in any biological fluids of the baby. Cytomegalovirus cells are found in the urine, saliva, sputum, and gastric lavage of a child. Most effective method diagnostics is PCR (polymerase chain reaction) - this method allows you to detect the genetic material of the virus in the test liquid.

If you suspect congenital CMV diagnostic value has a virus detected or tested for antibodies to it in the child’s mother.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is discovered completely accidentally in children. Very often, after examining a child for infections, the mother hears a mysterious phrase from the doctor: Antibodies to cytomegalovirus were detected in the blood.

Most children are infected with it, but the infection behaves secretly and does not manifest itself until a certain point.

Infection in children becomes more active due to decreased immunity and its consequences can be very sad: loss of vision, hearing, intellectual impairment and even death. What are the symptoms of cytomegaly and why is the disease considered so dangerous?

Causes of pathology - DNA virus, one of the family. Once the pathogen has entered the body, it remains there for life. If there are no manifestations of the disease, then this form of infection is called carriage. According to statistics, 80-90% of adults are infected with cytomegalovirus, and the first encounter with the pathogen occurs in childhood.

Once in the bloodstream, the virus seeks to penetrate the cells of the salivary glands - this is the favorite localization of the pathogen.

The virus affects Airways, liver, spleen, brain, gastrointestinal tract, kidneys.

In cells it inserts its DNA into the nucleus, after which the production of new viral particles begins. The infected cell greatly increases in size, which gives the pathogen its name: translated from Latin it means “giant cells.”

Typically cytomegalovirus in children Not causes vivid symptoms and proceeds covertly. The disease causes serious damage when weakened immune defense, which occurs in the following groups of children:

• premature and weakened;
• In children with congenital defects;
• HIV-infected;
• with work problems immune system;
• with chronic diseases (diabetes mellitus, glomerulonephritis).

How is it transmitted?

A carrier or sick person releases the virus during external environment with saliva, breast milk, urine, mucus from the genital tract.

Infection of a child can occur in the following ways:

• Vertical - occurs during intrauterine development. The virus is able to penetrate through the placenta into the bloodstream of the fetus from the mother's body. The risk of infection is especially high if a woman has suffered an acute form of infection during pregnancy.
• With mother's milk - if a woman suffers from an acute form of infection or became infected during lactation.
• Contact, airborne droplets - when passing through the birth canal and at an older age, when the baby communicates with infected people.

Kinds

There is no generally accepted classification of cytomegalovirus infection. Doctors divide the disease both by time of infection (congenital, acquired) and by prevalence (generalized, localized). Infection in HIV-infected children is classified into a separate group.

Congenital

A congenital infection is an infection that a child received from mother during pregnancy. If infection occurs in the first trimester, the pregnancy is terminated or a baby is born with severe developmental defects. Infection on later occurs in a milder form.

Along the way, congenital cytomegalovirus infection can be:

• acute;
• chronic.

The acute form appears immediately after birth, while the chronic form develops gradually during the first months of life.

Acquired

Child with acquired cytomegalovirus infection becomes infected during breastfeeding from the mother or through contact with a sick person. In infants, the disease can be severe; in children of preschool and school age, it can be like an acute respiratory viral infection.

Along the way, the disease can be:

• latent – ​​localized form (the virus lives in the salivary glands);
• acute – like ARVI with increased temperature;
• generalized - a severe form with damage to many organ systems.

Symptoms

Symptoms will depend on the form of the disease, age and immune status of the child.

In a newborn

Cytomegalovirus in children in the first days of life affects the liver, which manifests itself as icteric discoloration of the skin and eyes. Normally, jaundice in newborns goes away within a month, but in infected children it lasts up to six months. May be digestion is disturbed, the child is not gaining weight well and is worried.

Damage to the hematopoietic system leads to a decrease in platelet count– blood cells responsible for clotting. As a result, it is easy on the baby's skin bruises appear, may be pinpoint hemorrhagic rash. Possible symptoms include: bleeding from the navel, blood in the stool and vomit.

Infection in newborns causes inflammation of brain tissue(encephalitis) with subsequent formation of dense calcified inclusions in the lesions. Your baby may have symptoms such as seizures, loss of consciousness, neurological disorders.

An increase in head size is the result of dropsy of the brain due to increased production of cerebrospinal fluid against the background of an inflammatory reaction.

Defeat of the central nervous system usually combined with visual impairment. The virus penetrates the structures of the eye and damages them, causing the baby to the lens may become cloudy, the shape and color of the iris and pupil may change. Often the consequences of cytomegaly are permanent visual impairment.

Cough, shortness of breath, bluish skin color newborn - symptoms of cytomegalovirus pneumonia. Decreased urine output, unusual color, or strong odor talk about kidney damage due to an acute form of infection.

Congenital infection leads to very serious consequences, including severe disability and death of the child. Treatment folk remedies this will not help; serious drug therapy is required.

For a one-year-old child and older

In children aged one year and older, the infection is usually acquired. The disease manifests itself as inflammation of the upper respiratory tract. The baby is worried cough, pain when swallowing, fever bodies. May join rash all over the body in the form of red spots.

The child has enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, under lower jaw, in the armpits, groin. Swollen lymph nodes are painless, the surface of the skin is of normal color.

Sometimes the child complains about abdominal pain, in its right half or on both sides. The causes of pain are an increase in the size of the liver and spleen. There may be a slight yellowness of the skin and eyes– symptoms of liver damage.

Although the disease is similar to a regular ARVI, treatment with folk remedies will not cure the child completely.

Diagnostics

Diagnosing such a disease in children is not easy, since the manifestations are nonspecific and resemble the course of many other diseases. The doctor will examine the child and then prescribe necessary tests and studies to confirm cytomegaly.

Analyzes

The following tests will help detect an infection in a child:

• Blood tests for antibodies to the pathogen - the protective protein Ig M indicates acute infection, and IgG about the chronic or latent form.
• PCR of urine and saliva - allows you to detect the pathogen itself in the material.
• General analysis blood – the child has a reduced number of red blood cells (anemia), platelets and leukocytes.
• Biochemical blood tests - liver enzymes ALT and AST increase; with kidney damage, the concentration of urea and creatinine will increase.

The urine sediment must be examined under a microscope for the presence of giant cells with an owl's eye shaped nucleus will allow you to confirm the diagnosis of cytomegaly.

Instrumental methods

They are prescribed depending on which system is affected in the child:

• x-ray chest– if the lungs are affected, the image will show signs of pneumonia;
• Ultrasound abdominal cavity– will reveal an enlargement of the liver and spleen, possible hemorrhages in them;
• Ultrasound or MRI of the brain will detect foci of inflammation or calcifications.

For a generalized infection, the doctor will order a fundus examination by an ophthalmologist. This will allow timely detection of damage to the structures of the eye and, possibly, preserve vision, subject to proper treatment.

Treatment

How and with what to treat the disease? Treatment is carried out by an infectious disease specialist together with a pediatrician. If necessary, the child will be observed by a neurologist, ophthalmologist, nephrologist or urologist.

Drugs

A medicine that completely eliminates cytomegalovirus from the body has not been developed. Initially, there were attempts to treat it with antiherpetic drugs, but this regimen was not very successful.

The doctor may prescribe ganciclovir, although in children it is used only in desperate situations due to high toxicity. The medicine can only be used in older children when severe course infections.

In case of severe infection, the child is given intravenous human immunoglobulin - protective antibodies that will help prevent Negative consequences diseases.

If a child’s cytomegalovirus occurs as an acute respiratory viral infection, the doctor will prescribe medications that will alleviate the symptoms of the disease:

• antipyretics - at temperatures above 38 degrees C;
• expectorants - for coughing with viscous sputum;
• immunomodulatory - for children over 5 years old to accelerate the production of protective antibodies;
• vitamin and mineral – to increase the body’s resistance to disease.

• Be sure to read:

During an acute infection, the doctor will prescribe bed rest, a large number of warm liquid(tea with honey, fruit juice, compote), treatment with folk remedies: gargling with antiseptics(chamomile, soda, iodine) - this will not eliminate the causes of the disease, but will significantly alleviate the symptoms.

Prevention

Prevention of infection includes the child observing rules of personal hygiene, as the virus is transmitted by contact. Walking on fresh air, a varied menu, a rational daily routine - all this will strengthen the baby’s immunity and make it easy to survive the attack of the virus.

To protect the child from congenital cytomegaly, When planning a pregnancy, a woman should be tested for antibodies. If antibodies are not detected, the doctor will prescribe a preventive vaccination for the expectant mother.

The vaccination will form immunity to the pathogen and protect the woman during pregnancy from infection.

Treatment with folk remedies for acute infection during pregnancy is ineffective, you should definitely consult a doctor if you have any symptoms of ARVI. The consequences of congenital cytomegaly are too serious to neglect the possible danger.

Almost all age categories of people are at risk of contracting cytomegalovirus infection.

Cytomegalovirus in children can lead to severe complications, especially when it comes to infants. But the older the child becomes, the less dangerous it is for him to encounter the virus.

Cytomegalovirus is one of the types of herpes. What they are absolutely similar in is that they “occupy” a person forever. Once in the body, the pathogens remain there for all the remaining years. While they are “sleeping”, this does not affect their health in any way.

Many people, having such a “time bomb” inside them from birth or early childhood, will never know what the consequences of this virus are.

And all thanks to a healthy lifestyle and strong immunity.

Routes of infection

Cytomegalovirus infection spreads through contact, through all secretions (saliva, urine, cough sputum, breast milk and seminal fluid).

It is also transmitted through blood, so even an unborn child can become infected from its own mother.

In total, there are three most common types of infection in very young children:

1. Intrauterine.
2. During the passage of the birth canal.
3. Through mother's milk during feeding.

The first of them is when the infection penetrates into a barrier that has not yet been formed and has no protective barrier. children's body through the placenta, is fraught with the most severe consequences.

A child who has congenital cytomegalovirus infection may have multiple developmental disabilities, including:

• decreased vision and hearing;
• physical underdevelopment;
• neurological problems.

Therefore the state expectant mother Doctors pay the closest attention. A pregnant woman should take every precaution to avoid becoming infected.

Nursing mothers should be just as careful.

Grown-up children attending nurseries and kindergartens can also catch this virus, but at their age it is not so dangerous.

Healthy pregnancy - healthy baby

It is no coincidence that pregnant women are required to be tested for cytomegalovirus, since the infection from the mother’s body can easily be transmitted to the newborn baby.

The most dangerous thing is if a woman becomes infected for the first time during pregnancy. Then her immunity simply cannot cope with the virus, and the disease may manifest itself in acute form, endangering the lives of the mother and the unborn baby.

It should be remembered that CMV infection during pregnancy can also occur through sexual contact. Therefore, it is better to take precautions: use condoms.

If pregnancy is just being planned, the woman should be tested in advance for the presence of virus antibodies, indicating that she has already had this infection.

If the result is negative, we must at all costs prevent accidental infection during this crucial period.

Different ages - different symptoms

Depending on how old (or months, days) the sick child is, the symptoms of cytomegalovirus infection manifest themselves in different shapes.

In newborns, after intrauterine infection, these signs may be:

• jaundice;
• rash;
• convulsions;
• enlarged liver and spleen.

In infants who acquire the virus through breast milk, the development of infection can be associated with pneumonia and hepatitis.

And in older children, the virus may not manifest itself at all, or it may do so indirectly, in the form of:

• fatigue;
• aching sensations in the joints;
• headache;
• body temperature higher than normal.

The indicated symptoms can be observed both “in full” and only its individual points.

In children with weakened immune systems, signs of infection will be much more pronounced than in their healthier peers.

If for a strong child’s body an infection suffered in a mild form is even “useful” in some way (after it the child acquires stable protection against CMV for all subsequent years), then in weak children the disease can cause severe complications.

Asymptomatic

deformation of the skull due to the influence of cytomegalovirus

When schoolchildren or preschoolers have no obvious signs cytomegalovirus infection, even in the presence of an active virus, is an indicator of good body resistance.

But with infants everything is different. Hidden infection, which no one suspected for several months, one day suddenly “splashes out” to the surface. CMVI in children of such a tender age can manifest itself in the form of severe convulsions, weight loss, skull deformation and disorders motor activity.

After a few years, these guys may be diagnosed with signs mental retardation, visual impairment or heart problems.

The causes of severe pathologies are that cytomegalovirus infection in newborns was not treated in a timely manner.

How does the disease progress in the youngest?

Cytomegalovirus in children does not make itself felt immediately after entering the body. It can “get used to” for weeks and only then begin its harmful activities.

U infant This infection will primarily affect the liver. Jaundice on the baby's face can last up to six months, and the baby will be extremely restless, with poor appetite and low weight gain.

If the virus affects the blood, it will manifest itself in bruises and rashes on the skin, and there may be blood particles in the stool and urine. And when the amount of urine excreted decreases sharply, the kidneys are attacked.

Seizures, blurred eyes, dropsy of the head - all these are manifestations of CMV in newborns. Due to the fact that the development of infection at this age is very difficult and can lead to serious consequences, you should consult a doctor immediately at the first disturbing symptoms.

The consequences of cytomegalovirus, if not cured in a newborn, can lead to disability or even death of the child.

Not to be confused with a cold!

The child has - coughing, stuffy nose and fever? Most parents, without hesitation, will make “their diagnosis”: an acute respiratory viral infection. Although in fact cytomegalovirus may be at work here.

In addition to the symptoms listed above, it causes:

• enlarged lymph nodes;
• white coating in the mouth and inflamed tonsils;
• chills and sometimes rash;
• muscle pain;
• general weakness.

Since the infection in children over the age of one year is clearly acquired and not congenital in nature, it does not threaten anything particularly terrible.

Depending on the intensity, the disease can occur in several forms.

Namely:

1. Mild, in which the child can recover, even without treatment.
2. Moderate. The virus “affects” internal organs, but these lesions are reversible.
3. Severe, with serious impairment of functioning internal organs. With an acquired infection, this form is quite rare.

With timely proper treatment You can say goodbye to the disease in just a couple of weeks. Only in exceptional cases, some of its manifestations (inflammation of the lymph nodes, tonsils) may linger for 2-3 months, and then it will be necessary to apply again for medical assistance.

We “identify” the virus

There are several laboratory methods for diagnosing cytomegalovirus infection.

Such as:

1. Blood test for antibodies to CMV.
2. A general blood test (if the disease develops, it will indicate decreased performance erythrocytes, leukocytes and platelets).
3. Analysis of urine and saliva for virus cells.
4. Biochemical analysis blood, examining immunoenzymes and determining the concentration of urea and creatinine.

If cytomegalovirus is present in a child’s urine taken for analysis, a peculiar type of sediment is formed - cells with the so-called “owl’s eye”.

A sick child may also be referred for a chest x-ray examination, ultrasonography head or abdominal cavity, based on which zone the virus has chosen as its “affected territory.” You may also need to consult an ophthalmologist.

How is the treatment carried out?

How long and difficult the treatment of cytomegalovirus infection in children will be depends on the severity of the disease. Scientists have not yet created a drug that “deals” with CMV, but well-known antiviral drugs in the fight against it they are not particularly effective. The emphasis in therapy is on strengthening the child’s body’s defenses.

Treatment is carried out by infectious disease specialists and pediatricians. But if necessary, specialists in neurology, ophthalmology, urology and others come to their aid.

To cure cytomegalovirus in a newborn with a congenital or complicated form of infection, immunoglobulin preparations are used, which are harmless for children of any age. Antiviral agents, active against herpes, are used only in the most severe cases.

The disease is acquired, occurs without symptoms in the smallest children, and does not require treatment.

For children over three years old with mild form diseases take only the most simple remedies– to lower the temperature or narrow the blood vessels in the nose, provide rest and sufficiently frequent drinking. Otherwise, they give the body the opportunity to cope with the virus on its own.

In more serious cases, it is prescribed special treatment the onset of inflammatory processes or damage to certain organs.

When immunity is in short supply

Cytomegalovirus infection in children with severely reduced immunity is truly dangerous. If you do not take action, it can cause complications that will end fatal or lifelong disability.

By the way, according to statistics from the World Health Association, the mortality rate from CMV ranks second in the world among all viral diseases.

In case of particularly serious lesions, children with immunodeficiency who have suffered from this infection even undergo internal organ transplantation and bone marrow. Each such case is considered separately and requires specific, individual therapy.

With any form of manifestation of cytomegaly, it should be remembered that diseases of this type can only be treated under the supervision of a doctor, use medications strictly for the intended purpose. Using advice from “knowledgeable” friends and acquaintances is simply unacceptable.

Medicinal herbs against the virus

Is it possible to cure cytomegalovirus infection in a child using medicines? traditional medicine? Partly, yes. They will not be able to completely destroy the virus in a child’s body, but they will strengthen its defenses for an effective independent fight. healing herbs will help.

Here are some such recipes medical fees:

1. Combine flax seed with crushed raspberry leaves, marshmallow and cinquefoil roots, taken in equal parts, and half of the elecampane roots. Pour the mixture with boiling water (half a liter of water per two tablespoons of the mixture) and, placing it in an airtight container, leave overnight in a warm place.
2. Chopped herbs (chamomile, string, as well as alder cones, licorice root, hemlock and leuzea), taken in equal parts, pour 500 ml of boiled water (per two tablespoons of the mixture). Leave for 10 hours.

Medicinal infusions can be given to school-age children 1/6 cup three times a day. But before starting such treatment, be sure to consult your doctor so that there is no side effects.

Preventive measures

Cytomegalovirus in a child’s body is not yet a disease. Most of us have this “uninvited guest” inside us. The main thing is to prevent it from becoming active and starting its harmful activities. This restraining function is performed by human immunity, and the stronger it is, the more reliably we and our children are protected from infection.

What can be done to strengthen the child’s body’s defenses? Doctors advise following these measures:

• Make sure your child adheres to correct mode day, slept well and spent more time in the fresh air.
• The diet should be balanced and rich in vegetables and fruits.
• Offer children teas from medicinal herbs, give them a multivitamin.
• Since CMV is transmitted by contact, teach your child to thoroughly wash their hands after returning from the street and after each visit to a public place.

If your child constantly has colds, consult a doctor. It may be worth conducting a test for cytomegalovirus to make sure that this is not the cause.

Cytomegalovirus infection is considered one of the most common diseases associated with the penetration of a viral infection into a child’s body. According to statistics, it is diagnosed in more than half of minors. In most cases, cytomegalovirus in children is asymptomatic and does not cause any particular harm to health.

If the baby’s immunity is weakened or not yet fully formed, the consequences can be severe. Therefore, every parent needs to remember the features of this disease and the sequence of its treatment.

What is a virus?

Cytomegalovirus infection in children is caused by the penetration of a special virus into the blood, which belongs to the group of herpes viruses. It will not be possible to get rid of it forever. Even after full therapy, it does not leave the body, but exists in a latent state. The disease in its latent form is diagnosed in 80% of people. In this case, infection occurs in early childhood or during pregnancy of a woman.

After the virus enters the baby’s blood, it immediately rushes to the cells of the salivary glands. It is in this area that its localization is most often detected. The disease affects various organs and body systems: respiratory tract, liver, brain, gastrointestinal tract.

Cytomegalovirus has the ability to integrate its DNA into the nucleus of a cell in the human body. This leads to the formation of new dangerous particles. Subsequently, they grow significantly. This is where the name cytomegaly comes from, which can be translated as giant cell.

The disease is especially dangerous for children with insufficiently strong immunity. The risk group includes:

• Premature newborns.
• Children with congenital developmental pathologies.
• Children with HIV infection.
• Children suffering from chronic diseases, For example, diabetes mellitus, glomerulonephritis.

If a child with a strong immune system becomes infected, then nothing bad happens. The disease does not show any symptoms.

How does infection occur?

In the progression of cytomegalovirus in children, the route of infection into the body is important. There are three main methods of infection:

• Intrapartum. The infection enters the baby's body as it passes through birth canal. If the mother has the virus in the active phase, then in 5% of cases it is transmitted to the child during delivery.
• Antenatal. Cytomegalovirus penetrates the placental barrier while the baby is in the womb. With this course of events, the most severe consequences for the child's health. The virus lives in amniotic fluid infected mother. It affects the digestive and respiratory system fetus If infection occurs in the first two trimesters, then there is a high probability of congenital pathologies baby or miscarriage.
• Postnatal. Children become infected after birth. A baby can become infected through direct contact with infected person. The disease can also be transmitted through the milk of a sick mother. In more late age Cytomegalovirus occurs in a child through contact with saliva, blood and other biological secretions of infected people. This situation often occurs in kindergarten, at school and other crowded places.

In adult children, compliance with the rules plays an important role in maintaining health. personal hygiene. Parents should teach their child to wash their hands as often as possible, not to put various objects in their mouth, and not to use other people’s hygiene devices.

Normal course of the disease

Cytomegalovirus is not as scary as it might seem. If the child's immune system is healthy, then the disease does not cause any harm. It doesn't show itself at all. In rare cases, symptoms similar to the course of ARVI are observed. The following symptoms appear:

• Pain in the muscles.
• Headache.
• The child quickly becomes tired, lethargic and drowsy.
• Chills appear.
• Runny nose.
• Lymph nodes increase in size.
• Increased salivation.
• A whitish coating may appear on the tongue and gums.

This condition does not entail any dangers. After a couple of weeks, the symptoms of cytomegalovirus in children completely disappear. Simple antiviral drugs will help speed up the process, allowing you to transfer the cytomegalovirus to a passive stage. Medication therapy for an infant should be carried out under the strict supervision of a specialist. Such carriage of infection lasts until the end of life.

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Main symptoms and modern treatment cytomegalovirus in women

What symptoms might there be?

Symptoms and treatment are determined by how the infection enters the body. With a congenital disease that formed during the intrauterine development of the fetus, the following symptoms appear: hearing loss, neurological abnormalities, decreased visual acuity, problems with the nervous system.

The manifestation of the virus immediately after birth is determined by the following signs:

• Visual and hearing impairment.
• Skin rashes.
• Cramps.
• The liver increases in size. The spleen also changes.
• Jaundice begins to appear.
• The child is developmentally delayed compared to his peers.

The cytomegalovirus virus may not be diagnosed in older children. If the child’s immunity is weakened, then negative symptoms begin to appear:

• Painful sensations in the joints.
• Intense headaches.
• Increased body temperature.
• Fatigue, drowsiness, loss of performance.

Symptoms may appear all at once or only some.

Diagnostic measures

Acquired and congenital cytomegalovirus can be accurately diagnosed only after a set of measures has been carried out. Play a key role laboratory research samples taken from the child biological material. Most often, doctors use the following methods:

• Cultural. It involves isolating cytomegalovirus from human cells. This method is considered the most accurate. It allows not only to detect the presence of the virus, but also to assess its activity. The only drawback of the technique is its duration. All studies take about two weeks.
• Cytoscopic. This method detects enlarged cells in the patient's saliva. A urine sample may also be used for testing. This method is considered uninformative and is therefore not used often. It is not always possible to detect cells in urine.
• Linked immunosorbent assay. The method allows you to detect the presence of immunoglobulins M in the blood. Their presence in an infant indicates the initial stage of infection. If immunoglobulin G is detected, a additional research. If there is an increase in the number of antibody titers, then we can talk about the progression of cytomegalovirus.
• Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Considered the fastest. The result is considered as accurate as possible. Polymerase chain reaction can detect the presence of DNA pathogenic virus. It is also possible to estimate the rate of its reproduction.
• X-ray examination of the chest. In the pictures, the attending physician will be able to examine the signs of emerging pneumonia.
• Ultrasound of the abdominal organs. For CMV in children, during the study the doctor determines the condition of the liver and spleen. Their increase in volume indicates the presence of cytomegalovirus. Children under one year old have their own characteristics of the location of the liver.
• MRI of the brain. As the disease develops, the images will reveal a focus of inflammation.

If a virus is detected during the study, the doctor decides how to treat cytomegalovirus. Parents must strictly adhere to all the specialist’s recommendations.

Correct treatment

It is used to treat cytomegalovirus in children. A complex approach. Experts recommend the combined use of antiviral and immunomodulatory drugs. This therapy is considered safe for children over 3 years of age. In children under one year of age, treatment is also carried out with the help of medications, but their dosage is calculated in a special way.

According to the recommendations of experienced specialists, including Dr. Komarovsky, treatment of cytomegalovirus infection in children is carried out using the following drugs:

• Cycloferon, Viferon, Laferon and other analogues. They contain interferon.
• Among the immunomodulatory agents, the most effective are Imunofan, Ribomunil, and Thymogen.
• Preparations of specific immunoglobulins. This group includes Neocytotect, Cytoga, Megalotect.
• Medicines containing nonspecific immunoglobulins: Intraglobin, Sandoglobulin.

If a doctor discovers a cytomegalovirus infection in a newborn, which entered the body after birth, then a symptomatic treatment regimen can be used. It includes the use of the following drugs:

• Antibacterial agents. Used only if an inflammatory process is found.
• Antipyretic medications. For one-year-old babies, such products must be dosed carefully. It is best to use drugs that come in the form of suppositories.
• Hepatoprotectors. Together with CMV, a newborn may develop hepatitis. With the help of hepatoprotectors, liver cells are protected from damage.
• Vitamin and mineral complexes. They are designed to support the body's immune system.

Almost all parents know about this disease, which often does not manifest itself in children, and the infectious disease can be detected only after a blood test in which antibodies to cytomegalovirus are found. How dangerous this disease is for a child’s body and how to behave if it manifests itself will be discussed in this article.

What is cytomegalovirus infection?

Cytomegalovirus is an infectious disease belonging to the herpes group. It is most often asymptomatic initial stages, in children the symptoms are more pronounced than in adults. This is why virologists’ patients are predominantly children.

The infection may be congenital or acquired. Congenital is more severe and causes more complications. The disease can cause problems with work individual organs or systems or worsen the general condition of the body.

Due to sharp deterioration ecology, parents are increasingly asking the question: why is it dangerous? Symptoms and treatment depend on the method of infection of the child. As a rule, the infection manifests itself only when immunity decreases; before that, it can be in hidden form and not harm the baby's health.

Localization of the virus

After an infection enters the body, it strives to reach the salivary glands through the bloodstream. This is where the virus inserts its DNA into the nucleus of healthy cells and promotes the production of new viral particles.

As a result, the cell increases significantly in size. This is where the name of the disease comes from, since cytomegaly is translated from Latin as “giant cells.” Healthy children whose immune systems function well do not develop cytomegalovirus infection. Symptoms in children with immunodeficiency, HIV, developmental defects and premature babies may have varying degrees expressiveness.

Congenital cytomegalovirus

It enters the child's body directly from the mother, through the placenta. This happens when a woman gets sick for the first time and there are no antibodies to this virus in her body. For a baby, the most dangerous infection is congenital cytomegalovirus infection.

Symptoms in children may include visual or hearing aid, frequent seizures, developmental delay (mental, physical). Another possibility is the period of childbirth or breastfeeding. In this case there will be no dangerous consequences and the disease may never manifest itself.

Acquired cytomegalovirus

It enters the child's body in preschool and school institutions. Since the virus is transmitted by airborne droplets, it can enter the body of all children in the same room. Such an infection will not cause any harm to the child’s health.

Cytomegalovirus infection in children acquired in school age, does not contribute to disturbances in the development of body systems and does not slow down general development child. But with a decrease in immunity, it can manifest itself as frequent colds.

Symptoms of congenital cytomegalovirus

With neonatal infection of the fetus (especially before the 12th week of pregnancy), the child is born with numerous malformations. The virus contributes to the presence of heart defects, brain pathologies and other dangerous diseases or pathological processes in the baby's body.

The first sign of the presence of CMV in a child is muscle hypotonicity, lethargy, restless sleep, poor appetite, problems with digestion of food. In especially severe cases, death is possible in the first weeks after birth.

When infected in the third trimester, the child does not have any developmental defects. In this case, the symptoms of the disease will manifest as jaundice, hemolytic anemia, hydrocephalus and other dangerous pathologies.

After childbirth, the disease may not manifest itself, but as the child grows up, minor developmental delays will begin to appear, which will be provoked by cytomegalovirus infection. Symptoms in children 3 years of age are manifested by the presence of various neurological disorders and diseases.

Symptoms of acquired cytomegalovirus

The acquired virus manifests itself in rare cases; most often it lies dormant, without having any effect on the child’s body. This indicates good functioning of the immune system, which prevents the activation of the virus. In the case when a child has weak immune defense, the disease will manifest itself frequent colds(with inflammation of the lymph nodes, runny nose and elevated temperature body).

If a child has a chronic immunodeficiency, his body will be very often exposed to infection. In this case, complications from the disease will be localized in many body systems - cardiovascular, nervous, digestive, genitourinary.

Treatment of this form of the virus is very long and in most cases unsuccessful. Fortunately, complicated cytomegalovirus infection is quite rare. Symptoms in children, treatment, reviews - all this important information for parents who care about the health of their baby and want to prevent possible negative consequences of the disease.

Diagnosis of the disease

Diagnosing the virus has certain difficulties. To detect the pathogen, it is necessary to carry out a number of specific analyzes and tests. The main ones are the collection of saliva, urine and feces from the child.

A blood test looks for the presence of antibodies. IgG can be transmitted from mother to child and does not indicate the presence of the virus, as it will disappear over time without drug treatment. If IgM is detected in the blood, this is direct confirmation of the presence of the virus in the child’s body.

The presence of antibodies to this virus in the blood is not yet a reason for concern. A cytomegalovirus infection in a child, the symptoms of which do not appear, can remain in a latent state all his life, without affecting the condition of the body and without causing complications.

Hardware diagnostics of CMVI

To diagnose the affected body systems, the doctor may prescribe additional examinations that will determine the degree of damage to the body by the virus:

• chest x-ray - if the lung tissue is damaged, the image will show signs of pneumonia or other diseases of the respiratory system;
• MRI or ultrasound of the brain shows the presence of calcifications or inflammatory processes in the brain;
• Ultrasound of the abdominal cavity makes it possible to determine an increase in the size of the liver and spleen, the presence of hemorrhages in organs or disruption of the digestive and urinary systems.

If your child has an infection, the doctor will mandatory will refer you for examination by an ophthalmologist to identify damage to the fundus and structures of the visual apparatus. This will allow timely identification of structural changes and the appointment of competent treatment, capable of preserving the child’s vision, which is directly affected by cytomegalovirus infection in children. Symptoms, reviews from parents and doctors make it possible to more rationally prescribe treatment based on the experience of past patients.

The examination methods are prescribed by the pediatrician together with the infectious disease specialist. After the localization of the virus is detected, a nephrologist, urologist, neurologist or ophthalmologist takes part in the treatment of the child.

Treatment of congenital cytomegalovirus

Features and methods of treatment depend directly on the form of infection and the complexity of the infection.

Note! It is impossible to completely kill this virus in the body. Treatment is aimed only at improving general condition child and normalization of vital processes in the body.

Drug therapy for CMV infection involves the use of interferon and immunoglobulin, which directly affects cytomegalovirus infection. If the body contains inflammatory processes, be sure to prescribe suitable antibiotics and agents to enhance the body’s immune defense.

In some cases, a great effect of therapy can be seen when prescribing homeopathic remedies, acupuncture or manual therapy. The treatment method is selected individually, depending on how much the cytomegalovirus infection has affected the body. Symptoms in children and photographs of the manifestation of the disease will allow you to identify the virus in time and seek help from a doctor.

Treatment of acquired cytomegalovirus

The acquired form of cytomegalovirus can be treated at home. In this case, after the examination, the doctor selects suitable treatment, and parents can carry it out on their own, following all the doctor’s recommendations.

Cytomegalovirus infection in children, the symptoms of which are manifested by diarrhea, requires the use of adsorbent agents, thanks to which not only the problem with the functioning of the intestines will be solved, but also all pathogenic bacteria will be removed from it. All this will have a positive effect on the result of complex treatment.

Infected children should receive good nutrition and use a lot of pure drinking water. This will quickly remove bacteria from the body and restore metabolic processes.

Cytomegalovirus infection: symptoms in children, “Cytotect” as a way to increase immunity

"Cytotect" is a specific immunoglobulin aimed at eliminating pathogens of CVM in children. The drug is used to treat or prevent a disease accompanied by a decrease in the body's immune defense. Preventive measures necessary during organ transplantation, when the immune system is artificially suppressed to prevent rejection of the transplanted organ.

Prevention is the main way to protect against cytomegaly. After all, maintain personal hygiene, maintain healthy image life and as prescribed by a doctor necessary medications much easier than treating the disease later, especially with complications.

Consequences of cytomegalovirus infection

Newborns and children suffering from immunodeficiency are more susceptible to the development of complications. It is worth noting that not everything depends on the timeliness and effectiveness of treatment, since the disease can progress silently and cause serious problems with health.

The most common complications include:

• damage to the nervous system;
• encephalitis - inflammation of the brain;
• cytomegalovirus pneumonia;
• eye diseases, in particular chorioretinitis, which leads to strabismus in children and blindness.

Treatment effectiveness in to a greater extent depends on the state of the child’s natural immune defense. Since the drugs can only suppress the spread and aggressiveness of the virus. If the child has, in addition to CMV, oncological diseases or leukemia, the symptoms will be much more pronounced, and the treatment will be much more difficult and lengthy.

Prevention of CMV infection in children

The main way of prevention is to strengthen the child’s immune system. This task includes not only rational nutrition, but also necessary for the child moderate physical exercise, hardening, active rest and many other factors.

After illness (especially severe infectious disease) the child should not be taken to kindergarten or school right away, since his body has not yet fully recovered, and his immunity is too weak. In this condition, there is a high probability that the child may become infected with CMV.

If his condition worsens, it is necessary to consult a doctor, undergo the necessary tests and be examined. Attentive attitude Parents' commitment to the health of their child will allow them to avoid the dangerous consequences of the disease by stopping the virus at an early stage.