Cytomegalovirus (CMV)

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You Can Prevent Cytomegalovirus (CMV)

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 (dysphagia), 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.

A blood test can tell you if you have CMV, but this test is not commonly performed. CMV doesn't always cause symptoms. When they first contract CMV, some people have:

• fatigue,
  
  
• swollen glands,
  
  
• fever, and
  
  
• sore throat.

But these are also symptoms of other illnesses, so most people don't know it when they get CMV.