see also:

• viruses
• EBV / glandular fever / infectious mononucleosis

• CMV is a member of the Herpesviridae family
• ~60% of western populations have been infected with CMV, most are asymptomatic, but it may become reactivated if T-cell immunity falls

• if symptomatic, incubation period is 9-60 days
• may cause:
  • a flu-like illness with pharyngitis, perhaps mild pneumonitis with fine crackles
  • PUO
  • lymphadenopathy
  • splenomegaly

• may result in a mononucleosis syndrome and affect most organs in the body:
  • PUO
  • pneumonitis
  • hepatitis
  • encephalitis
  • myelitis
  • colitis
  • uveitis
  • retinitis
  • neuropathy
  • rarely:
    • Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS)
    • pericarditis
    • myocarditis
    • thrombocytopenia
    • haemolytic anaemia

• CMV normally remains dormant but may become reactivated if T-ltmphocyte mediated immunity becomes compromised as in:
  • AIDS
  • immunosuppressants such as azathioprine Rx
• CMV viraemia may then lead to:
  • severe pneumonitis
  • secondary haemophagocytic syndrome