Cytomegalovirus infection is the latest addition to the list of post-covid complications. Recently, Congress leader Rajeev Satav succumbed to the complication. Several sporadic cases of the infection are popping up in New Delhi, Bangaluru and Pune. Read to know more about this disease.
What is cytomegalovirus?
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a virus that is present in about 80 to 90 percent of the Indian population. However, it generally does not cause any infection or show symptoms due to our natural immunity. Moreover, it is a double-stranded DNA virus and can remain latent in the body for long periods. Patients who have recently recovered from COVID-19 are showing signs of infection.
However, after the display of infection, the patients are covid negative. In the last few days, about six people in New Delhi were diagnosed with CMV infection. Ganga Ram Hospital, a hospital in Delhi alone reported five cases of CMV infection. The hospital also recorded the death of a patient due to the infection. Similar trends have been reported in Pune and Bengaluru.
What are the signs and symptoms of this complication?
Patients with CMV infection, might not show any symptoms. This is what makes detection difficult. However, in severe cases, symptoms affecting the brain, eyes, or other internal organs arise.
Additionally, cytomegalovirus infections occur in immunocompromised people. Hence, it is common among HIV and cancer patients, people with low CD4 counts, etc. Patients might get a fever or have trouble breathing if the virus attacks the lungs and respiratory system.