Approximately 700 children suffer the effects of CMV infection acquired during pregnancy each year, leading to after-effects. Deafness affects nearly 500 of them. Faced with this observation, the Hearing Foundation proposes introducing regular screening for CMV in future mothers, modeled on the model used for toxoplasmosis.
Serious after-effects
Doctors are sounding the alarm about the dangers of cytomegalovirus (CMV) for newborns, reports Franceinfo. Around 3,400 babies in France are infected each year with this virus, which often causes deafness or developmental disorders. The Hearing Foundation is calling for the implementation of systematic screening for pregnant women, similar to that practiced for toxoplasmosis. Although ten times more common in expectant mothers, CMV is not included in pregnancy tests. Professor Natacha Teissier, from the Robert Debré Hospital, noted the serious after-effects of this virus, including hearing loss and cognitive delays. She also mentioned “an attack on balance” or even “possibly damage to the retina”.
> Also read: The ANSM warns about taking medications during pregnancy
Waiting for…
The Hearing Foundation and ENT doctors, including Professor Teissier, are calling for systematic screening of cytomegalovirus in pregnant women. Such screening would allow infections to be treated quickly, thereby reducing the risk of transmission to the fetus and serious complications for the infant. This medical monitoring would also help identify mothers already exposed to the virus, facilitating hearing and balance monitoring in babies. While waiting for such a measure, the application of barrier gestures remains essential, particularly for pregnant women with young children, often carrying the virus through nurseries and nannies.
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