CMV causes an estimated 400 deaths each year and permanent disabilities in about 8,000 children, according to statistics by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you are practicing the correct precautions like washing your hands and a child\u2019s toys, CMV is no more contagious than anything else,\u201d said Armstrong-Heimsoth, who teaches pediatrics-related topics to NAU occupational therapy students.<\/p>\n
CMV is primarily a concern for newborns and people with weakened immune systems, although many people who contract the virus report a mild fever or no symptoms at all. As part of the family of herpes viruses, CMV\u00a0is spread through bodily fluids, including saliva.<\/p>\n
The CDC estimates between 50 and 80 percent of adults have contracted the virus, which remains dormant in the body after infection.<\/p>\n
\u201cA pregnant woman can pass CMV to her child and the results can be fairly catastrophic,\u201d said Armstrong-Heimsoth, who notes just 13 percent of women have even heard of the virus. \u201cI became aware of this when a colleague gave birth to a son with undiagnosed CMV and he now has severe cerebral palsy, hearing and vision loss.\u201d<\/p>\n Treating a pregnant woman for CMV will lessen or prevent long term disabilities of the baby in utero. For a newborn with CMV, treatment mitigates effects\u00a0but does not remove prior brain damage. There is a three-week window after birth for diagnosing CMV, said Armstrong-Heimsoth, with a six month window for treatment.<\/p>\n Armstrong-Heimsoth, along with two researchers from Midwestern University, will present their CMV findings at the American Occupational Therapy Association\u2019s annual conference in April.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"Amy](\"http:\/\/stage.headlessnauedu-b6hgdzckfdgxgzhe.westus-01.azurewebsites.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/Amy-Armstrong-Heimsoth-1.jpg\")
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