The incidence of congenital symptomatic cytomegalovirus disease in Germany

Introduction. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is the leading cause of congenital infe ction. 90-95% of infected infants are free of symptoms at birth and 5-10% a re suffering from symptomatic disease. Methods. Between 1.11.1997 and 31.10.1999 clinical, laboratory and demograp hic data were monthly collected from standardized case reports. A congenita l CMV infection was documented by isolation of virus, antigen or DNA in the first or second week of life and serologically. Results. There were 65 infants with congenital symptomatic CMV disease and 32 infants with presumtive congenital CMV disease. 45 out of 97 children we re foreigners. 34 patients were treated with ganciclovir. In 13 of them the indication for virostatic treatment did not seem to be correct. Conclusion. The prevalence rate of congenital CMV infection in Germany is a bout 2/1000 infants. A virostatic therapy should be initiated in children w ith symptomatic CMV disease within the first 2 weeks of life.