What Parents Should Know About This Common Cause of Birth Defects

(StatePoint) Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common virus that infects people of all ages and belongs to the same family as other common viruses like the chicken pox virus. When a pregnant woman catches CMV and the growing fetus becomes infected, this is known as congenital CMV (cCMV) and it impacts about 1 in 200 babies.

While most babies born with cCMV do not develop signs of infection, about 1 in 5 will have birth defects or other long-term health problems, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Signs at birth can include rash, jaundice, microcephaly (small head size), low birth weight, enlarged liver and spleen, seizures, and damaged eye retina. Long-term problems can include changes in hearing and vision, developmental and/or motor delay, microcephaly, lack of coordination or weakness, and seizures.