Hi doctor, I delivered a baby ten weeks ago which weighed 2.0 kilograms at birth, and it was a pre-term cesarean delivery. The baby was healthy according to the attending pediatrician at the time of delivery, and the baby was not taken to the NICU. I got a maternal blood report which was taken during the baby’s umbilical cord blood banking at the time of baby's delivery. The report suggested me that my (maternal) serum is reactive for both CMV IgG and IgM. I am very scared. Is there any other test available which can be done after ten weeks on the baby for diagnosing CMV infection? Please suggest me. Is this a concern and what to do next? Currently, I am giving breastfeeding and also giving powder milk. Do I need to stop breastfeeding?
Hi. I have gone through the attachment (attachment removed to protect patient identity). I can understand your concern. CMV (cytomegalovirus) IgG and IgM suggests that you have cytomegalovirus infection and it can spread to the baby. 90 % of infections are asymptomatic. But 5 to 15 % may have hearing loss, mental retardation, and microcephaly. These are the tests which should be done in the baby. They are spin enhanced culture and virus isolation in tissue culture. It is the most sensitive and specific test for diagnosis. Other tests such as urine, saliva, CMV antigen test, CT (computed tomography), MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), hearing test, ophthalmological evaluation, CBC (complete blood count), and LFT (liver function test) should also be done. The child should be examined soon by the neonatologist. Infection can spread by breastfeeding. Breastfeeding should be stopped until you show the child to the neonatologist.