The Effects of Ganciclovir and Valganciclovir Antiviral Treatments in Children with Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection

Abstract

Congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) is one of the leading causes of non-hereditary newborn hearing losses. Typically children with a hearing loss would receive amplification to help combat the loss; however, new research has shown that children who have cCMV can receive antiviral treatments in lieu of amplification. Ganciclovir and valganciclovir are the antiviral treatments that are currently being used. These antiviral treatments help eliminate the viral load in the blood and thus improve the child’s hearing loss.