Chronic Fatigue part 3: more on Cytomegalovirus (CMV)

Cytomegalovirus (CMV): "Infection with cytomegalovirus (CMV), a member of the herpes virus family, is very common. Between 50% and 85% of people in the United States have had a CMV infection by the time they are 40 years old, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Children typically become infected with the virus in early childhood, especially those in child-care and preschool settings. CMV infections are rarely serious in otherwise healthy children and adults; they usually cause only mild symptoms, if any. When symptoms do appear, they are similar to those seen in mononucleosis ('mono') and only last a few weeks.

CMV is mainly a problem for certain high-risk groups, including:

* unborn babies whose mothers become infected with CMV during the pregnancy
* children or adults whose immune systems have been weakened by disease or drug treatment, such as organ transplant recipients or people infected with HIV

Once a person has had a CMV infection, the virus usually lies dormant (or inactive) in the body, but it can be reactivated. The virus is more likely to be reactivated – and cause serious illness – in people who have weakened immune systems due to illness.
Symptoms of CMV Infections

The symptoms of a CMV infection vary depending upon the age and health of the person who is infecte"