Incidence and Outcome of Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection in Selected Groups of Preterm and Full-term Neonates Under Intensive Care

Abstract

Congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection is the leading cause of mental retardation and hearing impairment. Examination for the presence of CMV infection was carried out in a selected population of 70 neonates. Urine samples were tested for CMV by means of a nested polymerase chain reaction. CMV was detected in 6 (16.7%) of the 36 preterm newborns and in 5 (14.7%) of the 34 full-term newborns. One preterm neonate died and the remaining 10 newborns were followed up. Two children born at full-term did not excrete CMV at 2 years of age and were symptom-free. Of 8 CMV-excreting children (5 preterm and 3 full-term), 2 were symptom-free (1 preterm and 1 term). Symptomatic CMV disease developed in 6 children (4 preterm and 2 full-term), with mental retardation (n=4), hearing loss (n=1), strabismus (n=2) or bronchial asthma (n=1). Screening of such neonates is important; those identified as congenitally CMV-infected can be monitored to correct any sequelae immediately.