Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Infection among Pediatric Patients

Dear Colleagues,

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a member of the herpesvirus family (Herpesviridae), which is highly widespread worldwide. It is estimated that the prevalence is particularly high in countries with a low level of economic development, where the prevalence in women of reproductive age can reach 85–100%. Children are particularly susceptible to CMV infections, and the prevalence rates among them reach 30% within the first five years of life. In general, CMV seroprevalence is higher among women, those in older age groups, people of low socioeconomic status, and in developing countries (1). Once contracted for the first time (primary infection), the virus remains latent in the body and the reactivation of the latent virus or infection with a different strain of CMV can occur at every stage of life (non-primary infection). The CMV infection of greatest concern is that contracted by a pregnant woman. The virus crosses the placenta with a different probability depending on the order of the infection: in primary infection, the probability of transmission ranges from 35 to 70%, and in the reactivation of the latent infection, it ranges from 0.5 to 1.5%. Fetal damage resulting from the transmission of the virus is of different intensity depending on the woman's gestational period. Today, drugs that can be administered both in pregnancy and in the first year of life are available that seem to prevent both maternal-fetal transmission of the virus and serious damage to the fetus/neonate. Therefore, the possibility of an early and accurate diagnosis in pregnancy and after birth represents a pre-requisite for the prevention of the outcomes of these maternal infections on the newborn and on the child. In this Special Issue, we intend to deal with the diagnosis of first infections and reinfections in pregnancy, the possible feto-neonatal outcomes, the usefulness of universal newborn screening, hearing outcomes in the child, radiological diagnostics, and the type and duration of therapies.

Dr. Cinzia Auriti
Dr. Domenico Umberto De Rose
Dr. Iliana Bersani
Dr. Francesca Campi
Dr. Maria Paola Ronchetti
Prof. Dr. Fiammetta Piersigilli
Guest Editors

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