Cytomegalovirus infection: perinatal implications.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV), a member of the herpes virus family, is the most common cause of congenital infection in humans, affecting 0.5-3% of all newborns worldwide. Congenital cytomegalovirus infection is the leading infectious cause of deafness, learning disabilities, and mental retardation in children. The high prevalence of cytomegalovirus in the general population, unpredictability of transmission, and asymptomatic nature of the disease in otherwise healthy women challenge prevention and treatment efforts.