Final answer:
Cytomegalovirus (CMV), or human herpesvirus 5, can cause prenatal hearing loss if transmitted from an infected pregnant woman to the fetus. This condition is part of serious symptoms that can affect newborns, which is why CMV is included in the prenatal TORCH screening.
Step-by-step explanation:
Is Cytomegalovirus (CMV) a Cause of Prenatal Hearing Loss?
True, Cytomegalovirus (CMV), which is also known as human herpesvirus 5 (HHV-5), can indeed be a cause of prenatal hearing loss. CMV is a significant pathogen especially in immunocompromised patients, newborns, and transplant recipients. For pregnant women with active CMV infections, this virus frequently crosses the placenta, leading to congenital CMV infections. Serious symptoms in newborns can include hearing loss, jaundice, blindness, and mental retar-dation if the virus infects the fetus during the stage where body systems are developing in utero. Although many CMV infections are asymptomatic, a CMV infection during pregnancy poses a heightened risk of hearing loss among other health issues for the unborn child. The virus is included in the prenatal TORCH screening, which underscores its significance in prenatal infections.