The frequency of pregnancy and exposure to cytomegalovirus infections among women with a young child in day care.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency of pregnancy and exposure to cytomegalovirus (CMV) among mothers contemplating a possible additional pregnancy and with a child less than 2 years of age in group day care.


METHODS
We performed a prospective observational study that included a demographic questionnaire and serologic and virologic monitoring of mothers and their children in day care.


RESULTS
Of 60 women, 62% were seronegative and 20% had a child shedding CMV. Of the 60 women, 23 women or 38% (95% CI, 0.27-0.51) became pregnant on average 10 months after enrollment. During pregnancy, 8 or 35% (95% CI, 0.19-0.55) of these pregnant women had a child in day care who shed CMV.


CONCLUSIONS
These results illustrate the potential magnitude of the public problem associated with exposure to a silent viral infection during pregnancy. Our data, when extrapolated to the US population, estimate that every 2 years between 31,000 and 168,000 susceptible pregnant women will be exposed to CMV by an infected child.
Marshall
Beth C
BC
Department of Pediatrics, Medical of College of Virginia Campus, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, USA. bmarshall@mcvh-vcu.edu
Adler
Stuart P
SP
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002656:Child Day Care Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies