Cytomegalovirus (CMV) (cont.)

You may already have CMV. However, you can take steps to avoid CMV, such as:

• washing your hands frequently and thoroughly
  
  
• using condoms (However, no protective method is 100 percent effective, and condom use cannot guarantee absolute protection against any sexually transmitted disease)
  
  
• talking to your doctor if you expect to receive a blood transfusion. Most blood banks don't screen blood for CMV.

If you work in a day care center, you should take these special precautions:

• wash your hands thoroughly after contact with urine or saliva
  
  
• avoid oral contact with saliva or objects covered with saliva (such as cups, pacifiers, toys, etc.)
  
  
• talk with your doctor about whether you should continue to work in a day care center.

Once CMV enters a person's body, it stays there. Most people with CMV never get CMV-related diseases. However, in people with HIV or AIDS, the virus can cause severe disease.

The most important thing you can do is to get the best care you can for your HIV infection. Take your antiretroviral medicine just the way your doctor tells you to. If you get sick from your medicine, call your doctor for advice. CMV disease mostly affects HIV-infected people whose CD4 cell counts are below 100. Oral (taken by mouth) ganciclovir (gan-CY-clo- veer) may be used to prevent CMV disease, but it is expensive, has side effects, and may not work for all people. Normally, ganciclovir (Cytovene) is not recommended, but you may want to talk with your doctor about it.

SOURCE: CDC.gov. You Can Prevent CMV.
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/brochures/cmv.htm>

Last Editorial Review: 6/27/2007

Source: MedicineNet.com
http://www.medicinenet.com/cytomegalovirus_cmv/article.htm