Viral infection in newborns, symptoms and treatment. Treatment of ARVI in infants and newborns. The use of antipyretics

Infection of a newborn with cytomegalovirus can occur during intrauterine development through the placental barrier. Also, a child can become infected in the neonatal period. The virus enters the body through the breast milk of an infected mother or through an infected blood transfusion.

If a full-term baby is breastfed, the virus does not pose a threat to the baby, since it has antibodies to infection. The disease is asymptomatic.

The fetus can be infected in many ways

Hearing loss is the most significant developmental abnormality in children with asymptomatic infection. One study found hearing loss in 2% of patients with asymptomatic infection. In 50% of these children, hearing loss was bilateral, and in 50% it progressed. The median age at first progression of hearing loss was 18 months. Eighteen percent of children delayed the onset of sensorineural hearing loss, with an average age of detection at 27 months.

Thirty percent of severely ill patients die from multiorgan dysfunction. A petechial rash develops within hours of birth and persists for 48 hours a few weeks after birth. The rash is also partly caused by the continuation of normal fetal hematopoiesis.

If a baby was born prematurely, is breastfed by a mother with cytomegalovirus infection, serious consequences are possible that threaten the baby's life.

Human-to-human transmission of the virus occurs by:

  • household contact,
  • airborne,
  • through a blood transfusion or organ transplant,
  • through the placental barrier or birth canal,
  • through breast milk.

Newborn toddler and younger child childhood people infected with the virus are surrounded every day, therefore, infection occurs, as a rule, in the first year of a baby's life. If the child has good immunity, then the disease will pass in a mild form, and stable immunity will be developed for life.

Microcephaly was found to be the most specific predictor of mental retardation. Mental retardation can also be predicted by the presence of intracranial calcifications, which predict at least moderate and probably severe mental retardation.

Seventy percent of children with symptomatic infection have psychomotor delay, usually with neurological complications and microcephaly. Hearing loss in 50% of patients with bilateral hearing loss in 67% and progressive hearing loss in 54%.

Symptoms

Only a small part of children infected with cytomegalovirus in utero suffer from the disease itself. If a woman has already been infected with the virus before pregnancy, then the fetus is not in danger. If the expectant mother first became ill during pregnancy, then the virus can reflect serious problems for the development of the fetus.

The most common manifestations of cytomegalovirus infection in children in the first days of life are:

Abnormal CT scan results during the first month of life appear to be the best predictor of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. In contrast, nearly 90% of children with abnormal findings had at least one neurological abnormality.

Cerebrospinal fluid results from infected infants usually show increased protein and white cell counts. Autopsy findings reveal inflammatory infiltrates in the brain parenchyma. These changes vary greatly with age of gestation at the time of infection or virus reactivation. They also vary greatly in the degree of disability they cause in patients.

  • jaundice,
  • cytomegalovirus encephalitis,
  • pneumonia,
  • disorders of the digestive system,
  • cytomegalovirus retinitis.

These diseases are accompanied by the following symptoms:

  • fever
  • yellowness of the skin,
  • headache,
  • impaired limb mobility,
  • increased sleepiness
  • cough
  • nausea, vomiting,
  • diarrhea,
  • damage to the retina.

Depending on the disease that accompanies the infection, different symptoms appear.

Therapy and clinical trials

National Institute of Antiviral Research Group on Allergy and infectious diseases conducted a pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic study that established a safe dose of intravenous ganciclovir for administration to infected newborns.

Initially, it should be recognized that the loss of observation rate was high and, therefore, the denominators for each parameter changed. However, a careful assessment of the drops indicated no bias in the analyzes. Twenty-one of 25 infants who were treated with ganciclovir and completed the study had improved hearing or continued normal auditory follow-up at 6 months, compared with 10 of 17 patients in the group who did not receive any treatment.

Diagnosis of cytomegalovirus infection in newborns

Diagnosis of cytomegalovirus, as a rule, is carried out in case of infection of people with an increased risk factor - in pregnant women and newborns.

In babies in the neonatal period, the manifestations of infection are pronounced, therefore, it is not difficult to diagnose the disease. With a month's difference, the child takes blood samples necessary to assess the IgG titer. If the value is four times the norm, the child is considered infected. If, in the first month of a baby's life, antibodies are found in his blood, such a baby is considered infected in utero.

Secondary results showed significant short-term improvements in weight gain and head circumference in treated patients compared to controls. The treated group also had faster resolution of liver dysfunction. The primary toxicity of ganciclovir, as shown in a previous study, was neutropenia.

However, the use of ganciclovir should be limited to those children with symptomatic illness, since medicine is mutagenic, teratogenic and carcinogenic. Kimberlin and colleagues evaluated 24 infants who received 6 weeks of therapy with either intravenous ganciclovir or oral valganciclovir. Those with the highest viral loads experienced greater reductions in viral load than those with lower baseline viral loads. Valganciclovir toxicity is similar to that of ganciclovir, with 38% of subjects developing moderate to severe neutropenia.

To diagnose cytomegalovirus, the following tests are also carried out:

  • cultural method,
  • polymerase chain reaction analysis,
  • serological studies.

Complications

The most common complications caused by cytomegalovirus in newborns are hepatitis, pneumonia, encephalitis, which subsequently leads to necrosis of the brain tissue and malfunctioning of the entire nervous system. Encephalitis retinitis after a few months of a baby's life leads to complete blindness.

At this time, ganciclovir and its prodrug valganciclovir are two drugs that have been shown to be effective in treating neonates for this common disorder. Their use is limited by potential toxicity, namely the induction of neutropenia, which can be especially dangerous in neonates, who are potentially more susceptible than uninfected or asymptomatic counterparts due to premature infants, intensive care units, and in the case of ganciclovir, the risks of indwelling infusion catheters medicines.

Treatment

What can you do

If a newborn child has signs of cytomegalovirus, you should definitely consult a doctor for a complete examination and the appointment of adequate treatment. If the disease proceeds in a complicated form, its consequences can turn into serious problems for the child's health and even disability.

However, in order to justify the risk and effectiveness of treatment, antiviral drugs with improved toxicity profiles are needed. Ganciclovir and valganciclovir have been shown to be effective in reducing hearing loss and improving development in those treated at birth. These are not ideal medicines, however, as their use is limited by their toxicity and their inability to cure patients of the disease.

The work reported in this article was supported by a grant from the National Institutes of Health and the State of Alabama. K. do not have a declaration for the report. Infectious diseases of the fetus and newborn, sixth edition. Fibroblasts, epithelial cells, endothelial cells, and smooth muscle cells are the main targets of human cytomegalovirus infection in the lungs and gastrointestinal tissues. Cell types involved in the replication and spread of human cytomegalovirus. Human cytomegalovirus cell tropism and pathogenesis.

What the doctor does

Treatment of cytomegalovirus is carried out only in people at risk, that is, in newborns and pregnant women. As a drug therapy for cytomegalovirus infection, antiviral agents and immunoglobulins. Also, therapy is carried out aimed at relieving symptoms - antipyretic, anti-inflammatory drugs.

Human trophoblast cells are acceptable for the full replicative cycle of human cytomegalovirus. Primary cytomegalovirus infection of the primary hairy term and first trimester trophoblasts. Cytomegaloviruses: ubiquitous agents with proteinaceous clinical manifestations.

Human cytomegalovirus infections. Viral infections people: epidemiology and control. Primary cytomegalovirus infection during pregnancy: morbidity, fetal transmission and clinical outcome. Cytomegalovirus in breast milk. Cytomegalovirus in semen: observations in selected populations.

Despite the fact that cytomegalovirus belongs to the group of herpes viruses, the effect of antiherpes drugs does not apply to it. After treatment with such drugs, the virus will still remain in the body and will multiply. Therefore, in no case should you self-medicate. It is better to consult a specialist who will prescribe adequate treatment.

Isolation of maternal cytomegalovirus and perinatal infection. Cytomegalovirus infection in transplant patients: methods for the prevention of primary cytomegalovirus. Acquisition of cytomegalovirus infections in families with small children: a serological study.

Congenital cytomegalovirus infection in newborn mothers infected before pregnancy. Congenital cytomegalovirus infection: appearance in the immune population. Intrauterine transmission of cytomegalovirus to infants with pre-conceptual immunity.

Prevention

The main measure for the prevention of infection with cytomegalovirus is basic adherence to the rules of personal hygiene. When carrying a child, it is better for a woman to avoid crowded places, child care facilities. To prevent infection with cytomegalovirus during pregnancy, you must use exclusively personal utensils and only your own hygiene items.

Maternal cytomegalovirus infection and perinatal transmission. Cytomegalovirus infection in a day care center. Cytomegalovirus transmission among children attending kindergarten. Prevalence of cytomegalovirus infection in the center of the Midwest.

Molecular epidemiology of cytomegalovirus transmission among children attending kindergarten. Epidemiology of cytomegalovirus infections in young children: day care and home care. Small children as a likely source of maternal and congenital CMV infection.

Isolation of cytomegalovirus from toys and hands in a day care center. Breast-feeding and transmission of cytomegalovirus infections. Syndrome after full body perfusion. Cytomegalovirus infection in children undergoing open heart surgery. Serological examination of cytomegalovirus infections associated with blood transfusion.

Preventive measures against cytomegalovirus in newborns are effective only for reduced immunity, prematurity. Infection of a healthy baby will provide him with strong immunity for life.

To prevent the occurrence of complications, general measures should be taken to strengthen the immune system:

  • adherence to proper nutrition,
  • active lifestyle,
  • rejection of bad habits,
  • hardening of the body,
  • curing infectious diseases.

Articles on the topic

Asymptomatic cytomegalovirus infection after blood transfusion during tumor surgery. Rise of antibodies of cytomegalovirus in infectious mononucleosis syndrome after transfusion. Cytomegalovirus is the most common cause of congenital infection in the world. Symptomatic babies are at increased risk of developing permanent complications, including sensorineural hearing loss and neurodevelopmental delay.

In symptomatic children, antiviral therapy with 6-month oral valganciclovir improves hearing and nervous system outcomes. Key words: Congenital cytomegalovirus, Antiviral therapy, Valganciclovir, Vaccine, Mother-to-child transmission.

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Arm yourself with the knowledge and read a useful informative article about cytomegalovirus infection in newborn babies. After all, to be parents means to study everything that will help maintain the level of health in the family at the level of "36.6".

Cytomegalovirus is ubiquitous in humans and, although it usually causes asymptomatic or self-limiting infection in healthy children and adults, it is a major cause of complications in immunocompromised and congenital infants. Clinical manifestations can range from mild, transient outcomes to severe multisystem dysfunction and may include intrauterine growth restriction, petechiae, jaundice, hepatosplenomegaly, microcephaly, chorioretinitis, and sensory hearing loss.

Viral load as determined by blood polymerase chain reaction analysis may have the greatest potential in this regard, but remains to be clearly defined. Further research is needed to determine the usefulness of viral load as a predictor of outcome.

Find out what cytomegalovirus infection can cause in newborn babies, how to recognize it in a timely manner. Find information about what are the signs that can identify ailment. And what tests will help identify the disease and make the correct diagnosis.

In the article, you will read all about the methods of treating such a disease as cytomegalovirus infection in newborns. Clarify what effective first aid should be. How to treat: choose medications or folk methods?

Secondary endpoints included a change in hearing from baseline to follow-up at 12 and 24 months, as well as comparisons of nervous system impairment between study groups between 12 and 24 months of age. Although there was no difference in hearing outcomes between baseline and 6 months follow-up, there was a moderate, statistically significant improvement in hearing in the 6-month group at 12 and 24 months.

As previously mentioned, the identification of a biomarker that predicts those infants who are at increased risk of persistent complications will go a long way toward developing a clinical trial of antiviral therapy for asymptomatic patients.

You will also find out what the danger of untimely treatment of the disease cytomegalovirus infection in newborns can be, and why it is so important to avoid the consequences. Everything about how to prevent cytomegalovirus infection in newborns and prevent complications. Be healthy!

The causative agent of this insidious disease - cytomegalovirus, belongs to the herpevirus family. Cytomegalovirus infection in newborns is often associated with brain damage and can be fatal. Congenital infection develops in the fetus during intrauterine infection (through the uterus or placenta). If the fetus becomes infected in the first trimester of pregnancy, then pregnancy termination is likely (fetal death). For more later dates pregnancy, the fetus continues to live, but cytomegalovirus exerts its influence on the further development of the child. Today in Russia, about 4% of newborns are infected with cytomegalovirus infection.

Any defects, including hearing and language defects, must be identified and promptly corrected with appropriate non-pharmacological intervention. In addition to these strategies, the primary goal of infection prevention is education about exposure sources and behavioral risk modification techniques to limit exposure.

Viral culture diagnostic methods are laborious and laborious, which makes universal screening using this modality unavailable for most subjects. This recombinant virus was demonstrated to be significantly attenuated in an immunocompromised guinea pig model, but it induced antibody responses comparable to wild-type infection, decreased the rate of transplacental infection, and reduced the mortality of guinea pig puppies compared to born control puppies to unvaccinated mothers.

In an infected child, immediately after childbirth (within a day), bluish, profuse rashes begin to appear throughout the body. He has:

  • hemorrhages in the mucous membranes;
  • from the umbilical scar;
  • blood appears in the stool;
  • convulsions are noted;
  • trembling in the upper limbs;
  • blindness;
  • drowsiness;
  • lack of coordination;
  • mental retardation.

Acquired cytomegalovirus infection in infants is usually asymptomatic. The first signs of the disease can manifest themselves at the age of five.

Cytomegalovirus infection during pregnancy, in most cases, has no noticeable clinical symptoms. Only in some can it manifest itself as a mononucleosis-like or flu-like syndrome. Because of the asymptomatic and widespread infection, pregnant women are screened for antibodies to infection.

Cytomegalovirus infection and pregnancy are incompatible and very dangerous conditions. The danger is that there is a very high risk of transmission to the fetus from the mother. Cytomegalovirus ranks first in intrauterine infection of the fetus. Cytomegalovirus can cause the most serious consequences when it first enters the body of a future mother. That is why women who did not have antibodies to infection during blood tests are at risk and should pay special attention to the prevention of cytomegalovirus infection, which, by the way, along with toxoplasmosis, rubella and herpes, was included in the list of diseases, on which need to be examined even before conception occurs.

The fetus can be infected in different ways:

  • male semen (cytomegalovirus can also be contained in sperm);
  • through the placenta during pregnancy;
  • through the uterus (through the membranes);
  • during childbirth (when the child passes through the birth canal);
  • after birth, during breastfeeding.

However, it should be noted that the consequences of infection of the fetus at the time of childbirth or in the postpartum period are not as dangerous as its infection during intrauterine stay.

If a child is born with cytomegalovirus infection, then immediately after birth, malformations may be noted:

  • dropsy of the brain;
  • underdeveloped brain;
  • jaundice;
  • hepatitis;
  • enlarged spleen and liver;
  • heart defects;
  • pneumonia;
  • congenital physical deformities.

The child can get sick:

  • deafness;
  • mental retardation;
  • epilepsy;
  • muscle weakness;
  • cerebral palsy.

Treatment of cytomegalovirus infection in children takes a lot of time and effort, therefore, the main attention should be paid to the prevention of cytomegalovirus. In any case, future parents, even before conception, need to be tested for the presence of such dangerous infection... The child usually becomes infected through saliva.

This disease does not imply special treatment. However, it is possible to use antiviral drugs, after taking which, you just need to make sure that the child does not lose heat and does not freeze. It is also necessary, for a while, to forget about physical activity.