Congenital cytomegalovirus and its consequences for families

Abstract

Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) is the most common viral andinfectious cause of disabilities to newborn babies. It can causesensorineural hearing loss and deafness, cerebral palsy, verbal, oraland motor dyspraxia, global developmental delay, microcephaly, feedingissues requiring a gastrostomy tube, intellectual disabilities,epilepsy, blindness and death. There are also children with cCMV who areon the autism spectrum however studies have yet to be carried out inthis area. For the rest of the family the consequences of cCMV are lifechanging. Additional pressure on families, separation and divorcesbetween parents, financial hardship, health issues such as anxiety,depression and chronic back problems are just a few examples. Siblingscan often find themselves in carer roles, they will often have less timewith their parents and are also at risk of having their own healthissues such as anxiety.