Congenital and acquired forms of cytomegalovirus infection in infants

Abstract

Cytomegalovirus infection (CMVI) is a common viral disease. Differential diagnosis of congenital and acquired forms of the disease in infants is rather difficult. The purpose of this research was to describe the cytomegalovirus infection clinical features in infants depending on the management tactics. Materials and methods used: а retrospective study of 95 medical records of pediatric patients treated for CMVI in their first year of life. 3 groups were formed as follows: G1 of 40 with confirmed diagnosis of congenital CMVI, G2 (43) with an assumed diagnosis of congenital CMVI and G3 (12) with acquired CMVI (the comparison group). Results: the study of the clinical manifestations of both the congenital and the acquired CMVIs showed that the acquired form of the disease runs as manifested infection and is characterized by acute onset of the disease, moderate intoxication, increase in body temperature to febrile levels (33.3%), rhinitis, catarrhal tonsillitis and lymphadenitis (41.7%), bronchitis (16.7%) and neutropenia (50.0%). The incidence of detection of clinical manifestations associated with CNS lesions did not differ significantly between children with congenital CMVI and those with suspected congenital CMVI despite their detection at a later period (at the age of 3 to 6 months old): 30% and 34.9%, respectively, p=0.636. On the other hand, neutropenia was statistically significantly more common among children with suspected congenital CMVI (41.9%) than among those with congenital CMVI (6%), p=0.007. Conclusion: when CMV DNA is detected in the blood in infants, congenital CMVI cannot be excluded.