Cytomegalovirus retinitis in short is called CMV retinitis. It is very important to understand CMV retinitis and it’s effects on the eye. CMV retinitis causes an inflammation of severe proportion in the retina and would eventually render the person suffering to go blind.
What is CMV Retinitis: A virus having DNA as its’ genetic base is called a DNA virus. CMA is a DNA virus and it’s infections are spread among almost all the living adults.
- CMV is an innate virus and is often take care of by the immune system in our body.
- It is only when the immune system in one’s body starts to dysfunction, that the virus starts spreading rapidly.
- Patients diagnosed with HIV positive are the ones who are most prone to developing CMV retinitis.
- Also, persons undergoing chemotherapy who are most likely to develop immuno-deficiency(due to radiation) are very much prone to the reactivation of this virus.
- Patients who have had transplants and undergoing medication could also be at a risk.
Transmission of CMV: The virus can be transferred into other bodies through various biological processes, like:
- Blood Transfusion
- Saliva
- Organ Transplantation
- Bone Marrow Replacement
- Breast Milk
- Sexually Transmitted body fluids
Effects of CMV: When the virus is transmitted the patient might experience body temperature rise leading to fever. Also, signs of mild hepatitis can be observed.
- CMV retinitis re-activates itself very easily in the bodies on immuno-compromised children and adults.
- Upon reactivation the virus can attack and disrupt multiple organs like skin, lungs, eye, brain and the peripheral nervous system.
- When it comes to the effect on the eye, CMV retinitis leads to retinal detachment and if untreated can lead to permanent blindness.
A Few Facts about CMV Retinitis: CMV retinitis tends to attack men in between the ages of 20 and 50 more than their female counterparts(the reason for this is the higher rate of AIDS affected men).
- 50-80 percent adult population of the States are affected by CMV.
- About 29 percent of the affected experience retinal detachment.
The number of persons suffering from CMV retinitis has been on the decrease of late. But, understanding CMV retinitis and it’s effects is important as immune deficiency syndromes are on the rise.
