Incidence = 0.5 - 2% live births

Ways of transmission

80% - 90% of cases antenatal by primary maternal infection, or recurrent maternal infection.

Perinatally during birth

Post natally in breast milk

Organs most affected: lung, liver, spleen,salivary glands.

Clinical Features
90% - 95% infants show no symptoms
5% - 10% exhibit a wide variety in both type and severity with CNS and systemtic manifestations showing in the first few weeks of life

CNS Symptoms :70% microcephaly ( small head)
60% intellectual impairment
35% hearing loss
22% visional problems

Systemic Symptoms : 70% enlarged liver
68% Jaundice
65% Thrombocytopenia
Hepatitis

Other Symptoms : 65% low birth weight
2%-5% pneumonitis

INVESTIGATIONS

Urine, blood, saliva testing ( can take 4 weeks)

CT scan head - periventricular califications in 25% of symptomatic infants

Management

GANCICLOVIR - has been tried does not reverse damage done but may preveny further damage