Early Childhood Intervention
This website is a place for families who are facing
challenges pertaining to their child's development and
growth.
It is a place to find answers and practical
suggestions. That's what Early Intervention Support is all
about.
Whether a family has a child with a challenging behavior,
a disability or developmental issue, childhood is short - it
should be savored and enjoyed.
Learn More:
Ask a Therapist
We understand developmental milestones and the challenges
of Special Needs children. We spend a great deal of time
with families understanding the inner workings of childhood
routines and interactions. Ask us about your child today!
Ask a Therapist
Cytomegalovirus
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Congenital CMV, or cytomegalovirus, is the most common congenital
(present at birth) infection in the United States.
Every year, about 40,000 children are born with congenital CMV
infection.
Cytomegalovirus Symptoms
Most babies born with CMV ("congenital" cytomegalovirus) never develop
symptoms or disabilities. When babies do have symptoms, some can go away but
others can be permanent.
Examples of symptoms or disabilities caused by
congenital CMV:
Temporary Symptoms:
- Liver problems
- Spleen problems
- Jaundice (yellow skin and eyes)
- Purple skin splotches
- Lung problems
- Small size at birth
- Seizures
Permanent Symptoms or Disabilities:
- Hearing loss
- Vision loss
- Mental disability
- Small head
- Lack of coordination
- Seizures
- Death
In some children, symptoms do not appear until months or years after
birth. The most common of these late-occurring symptoms are hearing loss and
vision loss.
Children with congenital cytomegalovirus are more likely to have
permanent disabilities and symptoms that get worse if they had symptoms of
CMV infection at birth. However, some children who appear healthy at birth
can develop hearing or vision loss over time due to congenital
cytomegalovirus. For this reason, if you know your baby was born with
cytomegalovirus, it is important to have his or her hearing and vision
tested regularly.
Diagnosing Cytomegalovirus
In serious cases of CMV infection, doctors can make the diagnosis by
detecting the virus in a cultured sample taken from a sick persons throat,
urine, blood, or other body tissues or fluid. Blood is also drawn at
different time intervals to measure levels of certain antibodies. These
antibodies are part of the immune systems response to a CMV infection, and
they can signal that an active CMV infection exists.
Special viral DNA-detecting tests are sometimes used to diagnosis CMV
infection.
Treatment of Cytomegalovirus Infection
A cytomegalovirus infection can be life-threatening for newborn infants,
so serious CMV infections may be treated with intravenous (IV) antiviral
medication, usually in a hospital.
Oral antiviral medication may also be used at home once the infection is
under control. Because these antiviral medicines may have serious side
effects, doctors use them with great caution, especially in children.
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Learn More About Early Intervention
Therapy Options
Thankfully, there are many ways to deal with childhood developmental
delays and behaviors. These include in-home services, outpatient (you take
your child to a clinic), inpatient (following injury or surgery) and school
based services. Which type of therapy should you choose?
Visit our Therapy Options
area to learn more.
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