title: Perinatal cytomegalovirus and varicella zoster virus infections: epidemiology, prevention, and treatment.
abstract: Mother-to-child transmission of cytomegalovirus (CMV) and varicella zoster virus (VZV) can lead to severe birth defects and neurologic impairment of infants. Congenital CMV complicates up to 1% of all pregnancies globally. Although antiviral treatment of infants congenitally infected with CMV can ameliorate the CMV-associated hearing loss and developmental delay, interventions to prevent congenital CMV infection and the associated neurologic impairments are still being evaluated. Congenital VZV infection is rare. Active and passive immunization strategies to prevent perinatal CMV infection with similar efficacy to those established to prevent perinatal VZV infections are critically needed in pediatric health.
authors: Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Duke University School of Medicine, Box 103020, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
authors: Kristy M
authors: KM
authors: Bialas
authors: Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Duke University Medical Center, Duke University, 2608 Erwin Road, Suite 210, Durham, NC 27705, USA.
authors: Geeta K
authors: GK
authors: Swamy
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Human Vaccine Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Duke University School of Medicine, Box 103020, Durham, NC 27710, USA. Electronic address: sallie.permar@duke.edu.
authors: Sallie R
authors: SR
authors: Permar
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019433:Chickenpox Vaccine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D022482:Cytomegalovirus Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D019433:Chickenpox Vaccine; D022482:Cytomegalovirus Vaccines
keywords: Birth defects; Cytomegalovirus (CMV); Neurologic impairment; Varicella zoster virus (VZV)