Post Covid-19 Complications: Cytomegalovirus

After black, white and green fungus, another post-coronavirus complication has come to the fore. 5 cases of Cytomegalovirus or CMV were reported at Delhi’s Sri Ganga Ram Hospital in Covid patients amid the second wave of the pandemic in April-May.

What is Cytomegalovirus?

A double-stranded DNA virus of the herpesvirus family, CMV is a common virus and affects those with a weakened immune system. It may reside in the body post infection for life. It spreads through blood, urine and saliva of an infected person.


What are the symptoms?

Symptoms include sore throat, muscle ache, fatigue, swollen glands and fever. More severe symptoms are rectal bleeding, diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever and weight loss.
Of the 5 cases reported so far, symptoms showed around 20 to 30 days after Covid-19 diagnosis.

How to diagnose? 

To diagnose CMV, a patient requires a blood and urine test which includes CMV antigen, a virus culture or Polymerase Chain Reaction or PCR. Colonoscopic evaluations can also diagnose CMV-related colitis.

Who can get CMV?

Doctors believe that Covid-19 patients with compromised immunity may be more prone to catch CMV. Covid patients who have received steroid therapy which makes their immune system more vulnerable are more at risk.

CMV in Covid-19 patients

Reports of CMV have been found in immunocompetent patients with Covid-19. Of the 5 cases found, 4 had lower gastrointestinal bleeding. 3 of them were successfully treated with antiviral therapy. One person died due to severe Covid infection and ‘massive bleeding’.