Causes of Cytomegalovirus
Cytomegalovirus Causes: Book Excerpts
Cytomegalovirus as a complication of other conditions:
Other conditions that might have
Cytomegalovirus as a complication may,
potentially, be an underlying cause of Cytomegalovirus.
Our database lists the following as having
Cytomegalovirus as a complication of that condition:
Cytomegalovirus as a symptom:
Conditions listing Cytomegalovirus
as a symptom may also be potential underlying causes of Cytomegalovirus.
Our database lists the following as having
Cytomegalovirus as a symptom of that condition:
What causes Cytomegalovirus?
Article excerpts about the
causes of Cytomegalovirus:
CMV is a member of the herpesvirus group, which includes herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, varicella-zoster
virus (which causes chickenpox), and Epstein-Barr virus (which causes infectious mononucleosis). These viruses
share a characteristic ability to remain dormant within the body over a long period. Initial CMV infection, which
may have few symptoms, is always followed by a prolonged, inapparent infection during which the virus resides in
cells without causing detectable damage or clinical illness. Severe impairment of the body's immune system by
medication or disease consistently reactivates the virus from the latent or dormant state. (Source: excerpt from Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Infection: DVRD)
Related information on causes of Cytomegalovirus:
As with all medical conditions,
there may be many causal factors.
Further relevant information on causes of Cytomegalovirus may be found in:
Causes of Cytomegalovirus: Online Medical Books
16 MEDICAL BOOKS ONLINE!
Review excerpts from medical books online, free, without registration,
for more information about the causes of Cytomegalovirus.
Genital herpes:
Causes and incidence
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
Genital herpes is usually caused by infection with herpes simplex virus Type 2, but some studies report increasing incidence of infection with herpes simplex virus Type 1. This disease is typically transmitted through sexual intercourse, orogenital sexual activity, kissing, and hand-to-body contact. Pregnant women may transmit the infection to neonates during vaginal delivery if an active infection is present. Such transmitted infection may be localized (for instance, in the eyes) or disseminated and may be associated with central nervous system involvement.
An estimated 86 million people worldwide are thought to have genital herpes.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Herpes simplex:
Causes and incidence
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
About 85% of all HVH infections are subclinical; the others produce localized lesions and systemic reactions. After the first infection, a patient is a carrier susceptible to recurrent infections, which may be provoked by fever, menses, stress, heat, and cold. However, the patient usually has no constitutional signs and symptoms in recurrent infections.
Primary HVH is the leading cause of childhood gingivostomatitis in children ages 1 to 3. It causes the most common form of nonepidemic encephalitis and is the second most common viral infection in pregnant women. It can pass to the fetus transplacentally and, in early pregnancy, may cause spontaneous abortion or premature birth.
Herpes infection is equally common in males and females. Worldwide in distribution, it's most prevalent among children in lower socioeconomic groups who live in crowded environments. Saliva, stool, skin lesions, purulent eye exudate, and urine are potential sources of infection.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Cytomegalovirus infection:
Causes
(Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition))
CMV has been found in the saliva, urine, semen, breast milk, feces, blood, and vaginal and cervical secretions of infected people. The virus is usually transmitted through contact with these infected secretions, which can harbor the virus for months or even years. It may be transmitted by sexual contact and can travel across the placenta, causing a congenital infection. Immunosuppressed patients, especially those who have received transplanted organs, run a 90% chance of contracting CMV infection. Recipients of blood transfusions from donors with positive CMV antibodies are at some risk.
About four out of five people older than age 35 have been infected with CMV, usually during childhood or early adulthood. In most of these people, the disease is so mild that it's overlooked. However, CMV infection during pregnancy can be hazardous to the fetus, possibly leading to stillbirth, brain damage, and other birth defects or to severe neonatal illness. About 1% of all neonates have CMV.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Diseases (Eighth Edition), 2005
Herpes simplex:
Causes
(Handbook of Diseases)
Herpes simplex is caused by Herpes-virus hominis (HVH), a widespread infectious agent. Type 1 herpes, which is transmitted by oral and respiratory secretions, affects the skin and mucous membranes and commonly produces cold sores and fever blisters.
Type 2 herpes primarily affects the genital area and is transmitted by sexual contact. Cross-infection may result from orogenital sex.
Incidence
Primary HVH is the leading cause of gingivostomatitis in children ages 1 to 3. It causes the most common nonepidemic encephalitis and is the second most common viral infection in pregnant women. It can pass to the fetus transplacentally and, in early pregnancy, may cause spontaneous abortion or premature birth.
Herpes is equally common in males and females. It occurs worldwide and is most prevalent among children in lower socioeconomic groups who live in crowded environments. Saliva, stool, urine, skin lesions, and purulent eye exudate are potential sources of infection.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
Cytomegalovirus infection:
Causes
(Handbook of Diseases)
CMV has been found in the saliva, urine, semen, breast milk, stool, blood, and vaginal and cervical secretions of infected persons. Transmission usually happens through contact with these infected secretions, which harbor the virus for months or even years.
The virus may be transmitted by sexual contact and can travel across the placenta of a pregnant woman, causing a congenital infection. Immunosuppressed patients, especially those who have received transplanted organs, run a 90% chance of contracting CMV infection. Recipients of blood transfusions from donors with positive CMV antibodies are at some risk. Pregnant women who develop mononucleosis should also be evaluated for CMV infection.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Diseases, 2003
Cytomegalovirus Infection:
Cytomegalovirus Infection - pathophysiology
(The 5-Minute Pediatric Consult)
Infection leads to intranuclear inclusions with massive enlargement of cells. Almost any organ may become infected with CMV in severe disseminated infection.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: The 5-Minute Pediatric Consult, 2008
Smallpox (Variola Virus):
Smallpox - pathophysiology
(The 5-Minute Pediatric Consult)
- The virus infects the upper respiratory tract and replicates. Rarely, primary infections via skin, conjunctiva or placenta can occur.
- The virus then enters the bloodstream causing primary viremia and is taken up by macrophages.
- Patient is asymptomatic during this time.
- Next the virus enters the reticuloendothelial system where it continues to replicate.
- Secondary viremia occurs as the virus enters the bloodstream and the organs.
- Virus enters the epidermis causing necrosis and swelling.
- Virus infects the bone marrow, kidneys, liver, lymph nodes, spleen, and other organs.
- The virus causes coagulopathy and multiorgan system failure,
- Exact mechanism of viral toxicity is not understood but may involve both direct viral cytopathic effects and inflammatory mediators.
Smallpox - etiology
- The variola virus, a member of the poxvirus family and the orthopox genus, causes smallpox.
- Variola is a double-stranded DNA virus. Usually transmitted during face-to-face contact via respiratory aerosol or direct contact with the virus via skin lesions.
- Transmission of the virus via air in enclosed settings or via infected fomites is uncommon.
- Humans are the only vectors.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: The 5-Minute Pediatric Consult, 2008
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