Watch the short clip of BBC media coverage with Dr Tamsin Brown discussing congenital CMV (cCMV).
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common virus that can infect people of all ages. Some can have symptoms of a common cold and some can have almost no signs or symptoms. Whereas it is cCMV that can pose a risk to unborn babies if a pregnant woman catches it for the first time. It can be the cause of permanent deafness for up to 20 per cent of young children, which might be a deteriorating (progressive) hearing loss.
Dr Brown works with other community paediatricians, neonatologist, audiologists and virologists, who are studying latest national and international research into cytomegalovirus (CMV). For further information about their work visit this page: https://www.cuh.nhs.uk/news/communications/baby-hearing-loss-test-team-effort.
Dr Brown explains the “new pathway was driven by the emerging treatment for congenital CMV hearing loss which is an antiviral treatment (valgancyclovir) which , according to recent research, has to be given within the first 4 weeks of life. There is research being carried out now to understand whether treatment can be given any later than this, since it is difficult to take a saliva swab, get the result and start treatment within 4 weeks.”
