Cytomegaloviral infection in children

Abstract

Once thought to be a rare cause of severe congenital infection, human cytomegalovirus (CMV) has now been implicated in a broad range of clinical manifestations ranging from asymptomatic infection to overwhelming systemic illness and even death. The virus is the most common cause of virus-induced mental retardation and deafness in children and is a major cause of opportunistic infection in immunosuppressed patients of all ages. Dr Gehrz describes the various presentations of CMV infection and discusses developments in diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.