Covid-19: Here’s everything you need to know about ‘cytomegalovirus’

WHY IN NEWS?

Sporadic cases of cytomegalovirus (CMV) are being reported from Delhi, Pune, Bengaluru, making it the latest post-covid complication.

What is Cytomegalovirus (CMV)?

• Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is also known as Human Herpes virus 5 (HHV-5). It is a common herpes virus that often causes natural infections in childhood and remains asymptomatic in patients with normal immunity.
• Once infected, the virus is retained in the body for life. Most people don’t realise that they have been infected by CMV because it rarely causes problems in healthy people.
• The symptoms usually surface only when carriers become immuno-compromised, such as those suffering from cancer, AIDS, or those who have recently had transplants.

Symptoms of CMV:

• The symptoms of CMV range from fever and fatigue to severe symptoms involving the eyes, brain or other internal organs.
• These symptoms include gastrointestinal bleeding (blood in stools), diarrhea, swollen glands, mouth ulcers, inflamed liver, and inflammation of the brain (encephalitis).