What is cytomegalovirus?

How does cytomegalovirus spread, as it is manifested in the children’s body? As quickly and effectively cure from this disease

Cytomegalovirus in children is an infection that has been provoked by the virus that belongs to the group of herpesviruses. The same group includes viruses of the first and second type of herpes. These include: the so-called «cold» on the lips; viruses causing genital herpes in men and women; and Epstein-Barra virus provoking infectious mononucleosis.

This infection can be in the body of any person, both in acute flow and in the latent period.

Cytomegalovirus received its name because it falls into the inner tissues of the human body, it disrupts their structure, causes an overflow of liquid and an increase in the size of the cells (literally name of the virus is translated as «Giant cage»).

That is why the penetration of cytomegalovirus is most dangerous for the body of small children and pregnant women.

Symptoms of the disease

If a person has a strong immunity, then infection can develop and leak completely asymptomatic. In this case, the cytomegalovirus is dangerous in that a person can infect others. But, mostly, the primary getting of the virus in the body still causes some changes.

Symptoms of the presence of cytomegalovirus in the body in children can be the most diverse. As a rule, the disease begins to mask under ORVI.

Symptomatics may be next:

• High body temperature and chills;
• overall fatigue, malaise and headaches;
• runny nose;
• an increase in cervical lymph nodes;
• muscle pain;
• increase in liver and spleen;
• Rash on the skin and inflammation of the joints.

From the above, it is clear that the clinical symptoms are really similar to the picture of the ARVI, but the main difference between cytomegalovirus infection is that the cold proceeds to 14 days, and the acute period of this infection is 4-6 weeks.

In addition, it is worth paying attention to similar symptoms if you or your child received blood products. A similar picture of the pseudo ORVI takes place in the acute period of cytomegalovirus infection obtained after blood transfusion.

Incubation period of the disease lasts from 20 to 60 days. At this time, the virus actively multiplies and stands out, so the patient becomes dangerous to others. At the same time, the danger of transmission of the virus with a sick person can persist 2-3 years.

If the patient, and, especially in children, is reduced by immunity, the development of viral infection in the body may be complicated by an acceding bacterial infection and provoke such complications as pleurisites, pneumonia, arthritis, encephalitis, myocardits and other damage internal organs, as well as a vegetative disorder nervous system and vascular bed.

When infection becomes generalized, then the whole body is affected. Inflammatory processes of eyes, lungs, kidneys and adrenal glands, liver, spleen, pancreas and all digestive tract.

In the hardest cases due to inflammation of deep structural structures, paralysis develops and as a result – a fatal outcome.

It is dangerous cytomegalovirus in pregnant women both for a woman and for the fetus. First, the mother has a weakened immunity and it can get serious complications in the process of infection. A, secondly, cytomegalovirus during pregnancy can disrupt the development of the fetus until his death and miscarriage.

In case of chitomegal in the body, the men may have pain in urination, and as a result – the defeat of the tissues of the urethra and testicles. Women have a virus can provoke the erysia of the cervix, vaginitis, endometritis, inflammatory processes in the ovaries, as well as pain and white-blue vaginal discharge.

Since the virus penetrates all organs and tissues, it is distributed in various ways.

Diagnostics

As a rule, the primary detection of cytomegalovirus in the body occurs with the help of antibody analysis to it. These antibodies are generated as an answer to the virus entering the body, and are found in blood test.

But a single study does not make sense, since antibodies are in the blood together with the virus and the development of either the infection rate changes, respectively, and the titer of antibodies.

For example, the increase in the titer is more than 4 times talking about the exacerbation of the process, and negative analysis and the absence of antibodies – that a person has not yet encountered cytomegal and primary infection is particularly dangerous for its body.

But blood test, detecting antibodies, does not provide complete information. Therefore, in case of their discovery, the doctor is also appointing an analysis that allows you to highlight DNA virus.

To study, take extraction from the urethra, vaginal discharge, the secret of the cervix or urine. The accuracy of the results of this study is 90-95%.

In addition, for complete diagnosis, cultural seeding is used, in which the material under study is placed in a nutrient medium and microorganisms are grown, thus determining their concentration in one or another tissue (blood, saliva, urine, selection). Accuracy of analysis of 95-100%, but it is performed about a week.

Treatment of cytomegalovirus

Currently, there is no way in the world to completely eliminate the virus – once hitting the human body, it remains there forever. The main task of therapy is the modulation of immunity and organism support by vitamins.

If the immunity of a person is quite strong and the disease proceeds asymptomatic, then the specific treatment does not need to be required.

Thus, the treatment of cytomegalovirus found in children is to suppress the activity of the virus, translating infection to the latent state, as well as preventing possible complications.

At the moment, glycyrrhizinic acid has been widely used, which is produced from licorice root. Preparations are also used successfully Protflacide. In addition, the doctor may assign other special preparations that will help restore immunity and stop the malicious effects of the virus.

Also in comprehensive therapy, teas are used from herbs, such as Kalina, Rosehip, St. John’s wort, Melissa. Especially since the herbs are now available in packaging in tea bags, and it is not difficult to brew them.

Treatment of cytomegalovirus, which arose or exacerbated during pregnancy, requires special care. The virus is dangerous in that he penetrates through the placental barrier in the blood flow of the fetus and may cause serious damage.

If the mother has become infected with cytomegalovirus to pregnancy, its antibodies protect the child, and if she received a virus during pregnancy, the acute development of infection can be very dangerous.

What is so dangerous cytomegalovirus during pregnancy? First, it can cause inflammatory processes in the vagina and neck of the uterus, which can provoke a miscarriage or premature labor.

In addition, the cytomegal can provoke heavy vices of brain development, eyes, internal organs. If the infection occurred at later deadlines, when organs are already formed, severe inflammatory processes can develop, as well as eye damage, hearing and brain organs.

Also dangerous influence of acute cytomegalovirus infection on a children’s body in older age. After all, the child does not have a perfect immune system. Therefore, if your child has a cold symptoms last 2 weeks and complications appear, then be sure to examine it on cytomegalovirus.

It is especially important to remember that the virus often extends to children’s preschool and school institutions. Therefore, treat the manifestations of ORVI from your child.

Prevention

In the prevention of cytomegalovirus infection, exercise, poultry and hardening procedures, as well as a bath and sauna, which contribute to the strengthening of immunity.

It is also important to be examined at cytomegalovirus when planning pregnancy before conceiving. To know exactly, there is this infection in your body or not.