Working with young children
If you work with young children, especially those who attend group childcare, you have an occupational risk of CMV. You can protect yourself, other children and your pregnancy from cytomegalovirus (CMV) while not excluding children born with congenital CMV from your care.
What is CMV?
CMV is a common virus. Anyone at any age can get CMV, or pass CMV to someone else. Over half of US adults have been infected by CMV by age 40. Most of the time people don't know they have CMV because it does not cause any symptoms or harmful effects.
What is Congenital CMV?
If you are pregnant and have CMV, the virus can pass through the placenta to your growing fetus. When a baby is born with CMV, it's known as congenital CMV. While most babies with congenital CMV have no impacts from the infection, about 1 in 5 can have serious medical issues.
The problem for caregivers, teachers, therapists and moms of toddlers
People who care for young children may be at greater risk of catching CMV than other people because CMV infection is common among young children. Studies from childcare settings suggest that as many as 75% of toddler-aged children have CMV in their urine or saliva. Toddlers spread infections by putting each others toys in their mouths, sharing cups and utensils, and needing adults to wipe their noses, feed them and change their diapers. Mothers of children in daycare may be at the highest risk of contracting CMV.
Reduce Your Risk of CMV
Taking steps to reduce your risk of CMV
does not mean avoiding children with congenital CMV as most children who attend childcare have CMV already. Using these universal precautions can help reduce your risk of getting CMV which is especially important if you are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant:
- Wash your hands often, especially after wiping a child's nose, mouth or changing diapers
- Try to avoid contact with saliva when kissing a young child. For example give kisses on the forehead rather than the lips
- Avoid putting things in your mouth that have just been in a child's mouth, such as cups, straws, tooth brushes and utensils
- When bodily fluids are accidentally splashed in the face, rinse the eyes
- Do not rely on diaper wipes to disinfect hands and surfaces as they do not effectively remove CMV
- Follow health and infection regulations when disinfecting surfaces, toys and changing tables
Should I avoid children with cCMV?
Where can I learn more?