Cytomegalovirus infection, new post-covid complication; all you need to know

Isolated cases of cytomegalovirus (CMV) are being reported from the national capital, Pune, Bengaluru making it the newest post-covid complication.

In the national capital, six individuals have been detected with this latest infection at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals in a month. An almost identical disorder has also been brought to light from Bengaluru and Pune.

Here is all you need to know about Cytomegalovirus:

What is the infection?

This is a common herpes virus infection which may or may not have manifestations. Cytomegalovirus is a double stranded DNA virus which continue to exist dormant in the body.

All those who have thus far reported this condition had COVID not even a month back. And at the time, this infection got diagnosed, they tested Covid negative.

Symptoms:

Patients may not show any manifestations, so it is tough to find out the infection. It may have severe manifestation which involves the eye, brain or other internal organs. This is not a new infection and, just like most other post-covid problem, Cytomegalovirus is not exclusive to coronavirus.

Just like mucormycosis is a fungal infection which may infect when the blood sugar is very high, cytomegalovirus infects when the immunity is weak. The infected person may experience fever, breathing difficulties if the virus attack the lungs.

The disorder is usual among those who have HIV, low CD4 counts or are cancer post-transplant patients on immunosuppressive medications and so on.

According to the PTI, doctors have stated that this virus are found in 80-90 per cent of the Indian population, however, it never displays any menifestation because of inherent immunity. COVID huge dosage of steroids for therapy lead to an immuno-compromised situation, giving this virus the opening.

Earlier, Ganga Ram Hospital reported five cases of cytomegalovirus-related rectal bleeding, one of whom passed away.

In May, Congress leader Rajeev Satav died because of the same infection as he was recuperating from Covid-19. He developed fibrosis in the lungs.

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