CMV, or Cytomegalovirus, is a virus similar to mononucleosis, and occurs most frequently in people ages 10 to 35. People with CMV often have no symptoms, which makes it harder to contain and easier to spread through blood, saliva, sexual contact and urine. When a person with CMV does have symptoms, some of the easiest to notice are fever, fatigue, and rash.
Most common symptoms
The most common symptoms of CMV are fever, enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, fatigue, loss of appetite, muscle aches, rash and sore throat. Often the symptoms are confused with the more common mononucleosis, particularly because both are characterized by extreme fatigue and swollen lymph nodes.
Less common symptoms
CMV also carries with it some less common symptoms, which not everyone suffering from the virus will experience. These include chest pain, headache, cough, jaundice, hives, sensitivity to light, stiff neck, shortness of breath, and swollen spleen. While these symptoms are less common, they are slightly more particular to the virus, therefore making it easier to notice that you may have CMV.
What to do
If some combination of these symptoms persists for more than a few days, you should seek medical attention. Also, if you suspect you may have CMV and you develop sudden, sharp pain in your upper left abdomen, you should immediately go to the emergency room. Because the spleen is often inflamed with CMV, this may be a sign that it is ruptured. It's also important to keep distance from other people if you think you have CMV, as it is highly contagious.
Tests
To determine CMV, a doctor performs a general physical exam, and feels the stomach area. The liver and spleen will be tender if the patient has CMV. They will also check the patient for a skin rash. To further determine whether the patient has CMV, blood tests are done, checking for platelet and white blood cell counts.
Prevention
The most important form of prevention from CMV is not making contact with a person carrying the virus. Because the virus sometimes carries no symptoms, it is good to follow general sanitary guidelines like washing hands and not sharing beverages. Children in daycare centers often spread the virus quickly, so it is important to be extra cautious in these settings.
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