Most of the time the infected infant shows no symptoms at birth, but in 5-25 percent of cases, symptoms appear over the next several years. These symptoms may include neurologic and developmental problems, sight or hearing problems, and dental abnormalities. Rarely, a newborn may have a life-threatening infection. Again, when this happens, most infants show no symptoms of cytomegalovirus infection. When symptoms do appear, they may include lung problems, poor weight gain, swollen glands, rash, hepatitis , and blood problems.
Premature infants are more likely to have symptoms than full-term babies.
After the newborn period, the next most likely targets of cytomegalovirus infection are children in day care or preschool. Cytomegalovirus illness is less likely to cause severe throat symptoms or swollen glands in the neck. In persons with AIDS, cytomegalovirus may infect the retina of the eye and causes blindness. The Nemours Foundation is a nonprofit organization devoted to children's health and is the largest physician practice delivering subspecialty pediatric care in the United States. Myers , and Pensacola .