Cytomegalovirus and rubella infection in children and pregnant mothers--a hospital based study.

ABSTRACT

Cytomegaloviruses (CMV) are ubiquitous and species-specific. Humans are believed to be the only reservoir of this virus and transmission occurs by direct or indirect person-to-person contact. Vertical transmission can lead to serious congenital infections. Rubella virus causes serious disease after vertical transmission but mostly remain subclinical or cause a trivial infection that may remain unrecognized. The objective of our study was to find the prevalence of CMV and rubella infection in the vulnerable section of our population attending GTB hospital. GroupI included pregnant women with bad obstetric history (BOH) (n=1115); GroupII normal pregnant women (n=500); Group III pediatric age group (n==585) and Group IV others with varied illness (n=100). Serologically IgM antibodies against CMV and rubella were detected using commercially available Elisa kit. The percentage prevalence in groupI was (11%) and (3.6%); groupII was (4%) and (0); groupIII was (12%) and (3%); group IV was (5%) and (1%) against CMV and rubella respectively. No apparent seasonal variation was observed in the pattern of infection. Also, overall infection rates were at a much lower rate as compared to other studies. Therefore the detection of IgM antibodies in early pregnancy is an important tool to identify active infection and to provide obstetric management to avoid the risk of congenital transmission of infection. This in turn may lead to a rethinking of current immunization strategies and appropriate modifications for the prevention of vertical infection.