There are several reasons for diagnosing a cytomegalovirus infection. Often there is an asymptomatic course of the disease, there is a risk of very serious complications in a pregnant woman and child.
Cytomegalovirus Diagnosis
To test for cytomegalovirus, you need to take blood from a patient, collect urine or sputum. Diagnosis of the disease is carried out to detect antibodies to the infection in the patient's body. Antibodies appear in the patient's body immediately after infection and thereby help stop the subsequent development of the infectious process, so that the disease proceeds without severe symptoms.
To determine the stage of the pathological process, you need to regularly determine the level of antibodies in the blood. Simultaneously with the blood test, other examination methods are also used to make an accurate diagnosis.
Indications for analysis
Cytomegalovirus present in the human body usually does not manifest itself at all,especially if a good and strong immune system. Indications for the appointment of blood tests for cytomegalovirus are considered to be:
- Planning pregnancy.
- Performing organ transplants.
- Placental insufficiency.
- Miscarriage.
- Signs of infection in the womb.
- Child has uncharacteristic pneumonia.
An analysis for cytomegalovirus can be prescribed even if a person has very frequent colds. Thanks to timely diagnosis, it is possible to determine the presence of the disease in the initial stages and treat it in a timely manner.
Importance of getting tested during pregnancy
When planning a pregnancy, it is very important to determine the presence of a virus in a woman's body. This infection can provoke various kinds of complications in a pregnant woman and fetus. Infection for up to 10 weeks often leads to fetal defects. Due to the presence of infection, there is a high risk of spontaneous miscarriage.
With later infection, fetal development may be delayed. Violations of internal organs are possible, therefore, newborn children suffer from hearing impairment and respiratory diseases.
It is very important during pregnancy to be tested for cytomegalovirus in a timely manner, as there are certain drugs that can suppress its activity and prevent the occurrence of severe disordersin the fetus.
Main types of analysis
There are several types of tests for cytomegalovirus, the main ones are considered to be:
- cytoscopy;
- cultural way;
- polymer chain reaction;
- ELISA analysis.
The most commonly used ELISA test, as it helps to detect the virus in the body even at the initial stages of infection. The essence of the method involves the determination of antibodies to the presence of a virus in the blood. Thanks to this technique, it is possible to determine which class of immunoglobulins are present in the blood. This analysis is considered the most accurate and reliable. The advantage of this type of study is that the results can be obtained very quickly.
Research by polymer chain reaction involves the determination of the DNA of the virus. Any biological material is suitable for research.
For the cultural method of research, absolutely any biological material is suitable, but its disadvantage is a long wait for the results. After taking the biomaterial, it is placed in a nutrient medium, where it stays for 10-12 days. This makes it possible to determine the presence of infection in the body. What type of analysis to carry out is determined only by the attending doctor.
Preparing for the test
To get the most reliable result, when conducting a study, you need to follow certain recommendations. It is forbidden for women to be tested duringtime of menstruation. If the analysis is taken from the urethra of a man, then for several hours it is forbidden to wet it.
The result is affected by the amount of material taken and the correctness of the sampling. Certain preparation is not required, but it is advisable to donate blood from a vein early in the morning on an empty stomach.
Transcript of results
You must know what the analysis for cytomegalovirus shows in order to correctly decipher the results. Immunity provokes the production of immunoglobulins immediately after the virus enters the body. To determine how active microorganisms are and how long they are present in the body, an analysis for cytomegalovirus will help. The decoding is to indicate the titers for antibodies of the IgG group. They are determined not only during the course of the disease, but also after the treatment.
That's why a re-analysis is carried out after a while. If the titer of IgG antibodies rises, then this indicates that the virus has activated. To confirm the diagnosis, it is necessary to conduct an additional study to determine the antibodies of the IgM group in the blood.
Deciphering the result should be carried out only by a doctor, who then treats the patient. If necessary, additional tests may be ordered.
Norm of IgG antibodies
The amount of immunoglobulins is expressed as a titer. There is no norm for the value of the IgG titer, becauseThe amount of antibodies produced in each person's body can vary for various reasons. This may be the general condition of the body, the state of the immune system, lifestyle, the presence of chronic diseases, metabolic characteristics.
What is IgM and IgG
Immunoglobulins are proteins that spread in the intercellular fluid and blood lymphocytes. Thanks to the presence of antibodies, the maximum possible protection against the spread of infection is provided.
During the test for the presence of cytomegalovirus, the state of IgM and IgG antibodies is assessed. Immunoglobulin of the IgM group begins to be produced during the initial infection at the initial stage of the disease. If they are detected in the blood, then this indicates a recent infection of a person or a relapse of the disease. In this case, there are much fewer of them than during the initial infection.
Literally a month after infection, IgG-type immunoglobulins appear in the blood. At the initial stages of infection, antibodies are characterized by low activity. After a few months, their number increases dramatically. It is worth noting that these antibodies are characterized by the absence of normal indicators, therefore, with CMV, IgG is positive or negative.
IgG positive
When infected with cytomegalovirus in the human body, antibodies to the infection are produced almost immediately. Since the immune system suppresses the spread of the virus, the disease is almost asymptomatic. The presence of antibodies is determined by conducting a laboratory blood test.
If the analysis shows a negative result, then this indicates not only the absence of infection, but also an increased susceptibility to a possible primary infection. If CMV IgG is positive, then in this case, stable immunity is not developed.
The analysis is carried out by ELISA or PRC. The first option provides for the definition of antibodies indicating the immune response to the presence of infection. If the analysis for cytomegalovirus is positive, then this indicates that the primary infection occurred no more than a month ago.
Features of cytomegalovirus in children
Cytomegalovirus is often diagnosed in children. Symptoms and treatment of this disease largely depend on the characteristics of the infection. Basically, the infection proceeds without certain pronounced signs. Viruses are resistant to antibiotics. Fetuses and newborns are especially susceptible to the disease, which can become infected during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
If there is a cytomegalovirus in children, the symptoms and treatment largely depend on the characteristics of the course of the disease. However, sometimes a child may experience certain disorders of the nervous system. In this case, the child may have frequent headaches, insomnia, overwork.
If the child's immune system is weakened, then the infection can provoke very dangerous complications, so immediateconducting treatment. With the defeat of cytomegalovirus, the symptoms in children largely depend on the age of the child and the state of the immune system. Mainly observed signs such as:
- swelling of the larynx;
- muscle weakness;
- headache.
Sometimes there may be a rash all over the body. The treatment is carried out with the help of antiviral drugs, which can reduce the activity of the virus.
