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You
Can
Prevent
CMV (Cytomegalovirus
)
- CMV
infection is very common; between 50
and 85 percent of all Americans have CMV
by age 40
- In people
with HIV, CMV can cause retinitis
(ret-in-I-tis), which can cause blindness
- You can
take steps to reduce your chance of infection with CMV and to protect
yourself from CMV-related diseases
What is CMV?
How is CMV spread?
How can I protect myself from CMV?
How do I know if I have CMV?
How is CMV different for
someone with HIV?
How can I prevent CMV disease?
References
- CMV, or
cytomegalovirus
(si-to-MEG-a-lo-vi-rus),
is a virus that
is found in
all
parts of the world.
For
someone with HIV or AIDS, CMV can cause
retinitis
(blurred vision
and
blindness), painful
swallowing,
diarrhea,
and
pain, weakness,
and
numbness in the
legs.
- CMV spreads from one
person to another in
saliva
(spit), semen, vaginal secretions, blood,
urine,
and breast milk. You can get CMV when
you
touch these fluids with your hands, then
touch
your nose or mouth. People can also get
CMV
through sexual contact, breastfeeding,
blood
transfusions, and organ transplants.
- You
may already have CMV. However, you can take
steps to avoid CMV, such as:
- washing
your hands frequently
and
thoroughly
- using
condoms
- talking to
your
doctor
if you expect
to
receive a blood
transfusion.
Most blood
banks
don't screen blood for CMV.
- If
you work in a day care center, you should take these special precautions:
- wash your
hands thoroughly after contact
with urine or saliva
- avoid oral
contact with saliva or objects covered
with saliva (such as cups, pacifiers,
toys, etc.)
- talk with
your doctor about whether you should
continue to work in a day care
center.
- A blood
test can tell you if you have CMV, but
this
test is not commonly performed. CMV
doesn't
always cause symptoms. Some people
have
fatigue, swollen glands, fever, and sore
throat
when they first get CMV. But these are
also
symptoms of other illnesses, so most people
don't
know it when they get CMV.
- Once CMV
enters a person's body, it stays
there.
Most people with CMV never get CMV-related diseases. However, in people with
HIV
or
AIDS, the virus can cause severe disease.
- The most
important thing you can do is to get
the
best care you can for your HIV infection.
Take
your antiretroviral medicine just the way
your
doctor tells you to. If you get sick from
your
medicine, call your doctor for advice.
CMV
disease mostly affects HIV-infected people
whose
CD4 cell counts are below 100.
Oral
(taken by mouth) ganciclovir (gan-CY-clo-veer) may be used to prevent CMV
disease, but
it
is expensive, has side effects, and may not
work
for all people. Normally, ganciclovir is
not
recommended, but you may want to talk
with
your doctor about it.
For more
information, call:
Free
referrals and information:
CDC
National AIDS Hotline
English
(800) 342-AIDS (2437)
[24
hours/day]
Spanish
(800) 344-SIDA (7432)
(HIV and
STDs) [8
am-2 am EST]
TTY (800)
243-7889 (Deaf
and Hard of Hearing)
[Monday-Friday
10 am-10 pm EST]
Free
materials:
CDC
National Prevention Information Network
(800)
458-5231
1-301-
562-1098 (International)
P.O. Box
6003
Rockville,
MD 20849-6003
Free
HIV/AIDS treatment information:
AIDS
Treatment Information Service (ATIS)
(800)
448-0440
Project
Inform (800)
822-7422
Drugs
undergoing clinical trials:
AIDS
Clinical Trials Information Service (ACTIS)
(800)
874-2572
Social
security benefits:
Social
Security Administration
(800)
772-1213 (You
also may request a personal earnings and
benefit
estimate statement to help you estimate the
retirement,
disability, and survivor benefits payable
on
your Social Security record.)
To obtain
information on the Child Health Insurance
Program,
please call: 1-877-KIDS
NOW (1-877-543-7669)
CDC
Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention
Internet
address: http://www.cdc.gov/hiv
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