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ARTICLE
THE GREAT MIMICKER: WHY A THOUGHTFUL APPROACH TO CYTOMEGALOVIRUS IS CRUCIAL
Issue Vol. 1 No. 01 (2024): Volume 01 Issue 01 --- Section Articles
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Abstract
In the vast world of infectious diseases, few pathogens are as enigmatic as Cytomegalovirus (CMV). This ubiquitous betaherpesvirus is a master of disguise, capable of causing a dizzying array of clinical pictures. In most healthy people, it passes like a silent ghost, leaving no trace of its visit. But for those with developing or weakened immune systems—newborns and transplant patients, for example—CMV can be a devastating force, causing severe, disseminated, and life-threatening illness. Congenital CMV (cCMV) is the most common infection passed from mother to child before birth and a primary non-genetic reason for permanent hearing loss and long-term neurodevelopmental challenges. The true challenge of CMV lies in its ability to mimic a multitude of other conditions. Its symptoms frequently overlap with other infections, as well as genetic, metabolic, and systemic disorders, making it a true "great mimicker" in clinical medicine. This diagnostic puzzle demands a careful and comprehensive approach from any physician. Getting the diagnosis right is everything; it shapes treatment, guides conversations with families, and sets the course for a patient's entire life. This review walks through the story of CMV—from its complex biology to the diverse ways it presents in our patients—and makes the case for why a thoughtful differential diagnosis is critical to unmasking the true culprit when CMV is found at the scene.
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References
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