N213: Health Differences Across the Life Span 3

N213: Health Differences Across the Lifespan 3 Study Guide Cytomegalovirus has three phases. During the second or latent phase, there is a very high risk of spreading the virus. The three phases include: • Initial infection phase: During this phase, there may or may not be symptoms. People who have symptoms will only feel like they have a viral infection and nothing specific suggests the infection is cytomegalovirus. • Latent infection phase: During this phase, the patient will be asymptomatic but the virus can be spread to others via body fluids, including saliva. Drooling babies at daycare are at a very high risk of spreading the virus. • Reactivation phase: The virus can reactivate with a return of symptoms when the patient is under stress or when anything weakens the immune system. Signs and symptoms of cytomegalovirus: • Fatigue • Pharyngitis • Lymphadenopathy • Fever • Liver inflammation (hepatitis) • Pneumonia • Meningitis • Rash (petechiae) • Splenomegaly • CNS damage • Esophagitis • Retinitis • Pain • Weight loss • Colitis • Birth defects • Bloody diarrhea • Stomatitis Nursing assessment for cytomegalovirus: • Head to toe general assessment for viral infection o Check temperature o Assess breath sounds o Check throat for redness, soreness, and swelling o Inquire about pain level • Inquire about exposure history: daycare centers or pregnancy inmother • Take medical history for underlying conditions: immunosuppression and HIVdisease • Review laboratory reports o CBC with differential, WBC count, and lymphocytes o Culture for CMV; blood, saliva, or urine ©2017 Achieve Test Prep Page 58 of 204