My world shattered when ‘kissing virus' left our son quadriplegic – every mum needs to know 4 rules to stop it spreading
YOU wouldn't think twice about kissing your kids, sharing food with them or perhaps putting their dummy in your mouth to clean it. But a mum is urging parents to be aware that this is in fact, NHS advice.
Helen Harrison, 40, was excited to have her fourth child and first son, Alfie. But he was born disabled after she unknowingly caught a common virus that harms unborn babies, and yet, most parents or midwives have even heard of it.
7
Helen Harrison, 40, unknowingly caught cytomegalovirus (CMV) while pregnant
Credit: supplied
7
The mum-of-four passed on the common virus to baby Alfie in the womb
Credit: supplied
7
Severely disabled Alfie, now six, has cerebral palsy, epilepsy, limited vision and a learning disability due to the virus
Credit: supplied
Now six years old, severely disabled Alfie has
Helen, of Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, says: 'He can't do anything for himself, and probably never will.'
Helen feels she was 'let down' by the NHS, having never been told about
Helen, married to Dan, 42, a construction firm boss, tells Sun Health: "I've never walked into a doctor's surgery and seen a poster about CMV saying, don't share your children's food or cutlery, or kiss them on the mouth.
"It's the summer months, you wouldn't hesitate to let your child have a lick of your ice cream.
"It makes me really cross that you're not warned about CMV. I just feel a bit let down.'
It's thought health chiefs don't want to unnecessarily scare parents about a virus that is so common, so easily spread but for most, has little consequences.
"Most babies with congenital CMV do not have any symptoms," the
For some, like Alfie, the impact is life-limiting. Up to 4,000 babies are born with CMV every year, according to Dr Helen Payne, a leading CMV researcher at London's Imperial College and St Mary's Hospital.
Of those, an estimated 800 have long-term consequences, such as deafness or learning disabilities, while 200 suffer as severely as Alfie.
The signs of common virus that could be deadly to babies - and how to spot them in your tot
Dr Payne says: "It's upsetting that a condition that is so widespread and profoundly affects some infants is barely known by the public, especially when there are actions that can be done to prevent infection."
CMV is a common bug that usually has no symptoms, but for some, may cause the sniffles, a rash or temperature.
Professor Hermione Lyall, Britain's leading clinical expert in CMV, based at St Mary's Hospital, says: 'Generally speaking, most of us have it as we grow up and grow older, but it never really does us any harm.
'It only really causes a problem if you are a baby in the womb and you haven't yet developed an immune system, or if you're somebody who's immunosuppressed.'
The bug can be passed between people in close contact through bodily fluids, including saliva, urine and faeces. It can therefore spread when sharing cutlery, straws or dummies and from mouth-to-mouth contact, such as kissing.
Pregnant women who work closely with children or already have a young family are more at risk of getting CMV, the NHS says.
Official advice to pregnant women or those around expectant mums is to follow four important rules (scroll down for more information).
1.
Wash hands with soap after changing nappies or wiping kids' noses
2.
Avoid sharing food & drink with children, including glasses, straws & cutlery
3.
Never put children's dummies in your own mouth
4.
Kiss your children on the forehead, not the mouth
'Burst into tears'
Prof Lyall says midwives don't receive extensive training on CMV.
"We got hold of the main textbook for midwives, and there was about six lines on CMV, and it's not really correct or relevant to the modern world at all,' she says.
'Most people know about avoiding cat litter in pregnancy because you don't want to get toxoplasmosis, or about avoiding soft cheese because you don't want to get listeria.
'But the chances of getting either of these infections are absolutely minuscule, less than 20 cases a year, whereas there are up to 4,000 children a year born in the UK with CMV.'
A former primary school teacher, Helen had a 'textbook pregnancy' before Alfie came along.
'He was born in my trousers at the front door of the hospital,' Helen recalls. A crash team rushed to the site and noticed Alfie had a pinprick rash all over his body.
Worried about the shock of the freezing December weather, they whisked him away to the Special Care Baby Unit. At first, the doctors and nurses didn't seem too concerned.
7
Alfie cannot walk, stand or feed himself but his 'laughs and smiles' delight his devoted parents and sisters
Credit: supplied
7
Helen feels 'let down' by the NHS, having never been told about the virus
Credit: supplied
But the following morning, when Alfie's father Dan arrived, the couple was ushered into a side room.
It's just that total shock. I think I had that naïve belief that it would never happen to me
They were told that a brain scan had revealed multiple abnormalities and Alfie's liver and spleen were enlarged. The
news
was devastating for the young couple.
'We burst into tears,' says Helen, who says they were not treated with compassion. A paediatrician allegedly told Dan: 'You need to sort yourself out and man up. Your wife needs you.'
Helen says: 'They started asking lots of questions - what was the pregnancy like? Did I have any
'Did I follow the guidelines of what you should and shouldn't eat? I felt they were blaming me.'
With no clear answers, the hospital contacted the specialist infectious diseases team at St Mary's Hospital,
London
, who recommended Alfie was tested for CMV. His viral load was then discovered to be 'sky high'.
He was immediately given medication, which reduced the infection, but could not undo the damage to his brain.
Helen says: 'It's just that total shock. I think I had that naïve belief that it would never happen to me.'
Dr Payne says that the most dangerous time for a foetus is the first three months of pregnancy. But treating the mum can prevent the virus being transmitted to the baby.
'He laughs, he smiles'
She is among experts calling for screening of all pregnant women, as is the case in parts of France, Spain and Greece, as well as in Ontario,
The UK's National Screening Committee has to consider whether a screening programme for any condition is worthwhile - in this case, including whether it will cause alarm to parents.
A screening programme for CVM was rejected in 2017 and 2022. The NSC is due to consider testing both mothers and babies for CMV this summer, with an announcement expected in the autumn.
Dr Lyall says: 'There's competition from all kinds of things, such as screening for cancer, genetic diseases or metabolic diseases.
'The thing that is very tough for us is the fact that there's an intervention that can prevent the virus from going across and causing damage to a baby, and we're not able to offer that to women because we don't diagnose that the infection is there.
"It's only the more severe babies that get picked up, because we're not screening for it, and so it's just not out there that this is something that people need to worry about in pregnancy."
The experts are also calling for CMV to be included in the heel prick test given to every newborn baby in the UK at five days, so that those affected can be identified quickly.
The charity
That includes direct costs to the NHS and social services, workdays lost by parents plus the expense of therapies and equipment. Helen cares for Alfie full time, but would like to return to work in the special needs sector.
I visit the family in their comfortable, detached home, and Alfie seems like a happy little boy. Dressed in a dinosaur T-shirt and leggings, he lies on a play mat surrounded by sensory toys, contentedly gurgling.
Though he cannot speak, Helen says he is very communicative.
Sometimes Dan and I wonder what Alfie would be like if he hadn't been affected by CMV, would he be running around, terrorizing his sisters?
Helen
'He laughs, he smiles,' she says. 'He'll scream and shout if he's not happy. He hasn't got words, but he's definitely got his own voice.
"If he's upset, then it takes a while to sort of soothe him. And you wish, God, I just wish he could just tell me what is wrong."
Alfie can't eat solid foods, so doctors suggested a feeding peg that would deliver liquid food straight into his stomach via a tube.
Helen was against the idea, unless Alfie were to stop thriving. 'We've worked so hard to keep him orally fed,' she says.
'He really enjoys flavoursome foods. Just last night, we were around at my parents' and he was given a spoonful of lemon meringue pie filling, and then he's immediately opening his mouth for the
next
spoonful. It's just such a joy.
'And it is a social thing as well to eat, so we just don't want him to lose that.'
Alfie attends a special needs school where he loves interacting with other children. He is also adored by his older sisters Evie, 12, Millie, 10, and
Chloe
, eight.
"Sometimes Dan and I wonder what Alfie would be like if he hadn't been affected by CMV, would he be running around, terrorizing his sisters?' says Helen.
He will always carry the virus, but it is now inactive. In 2019, Helen and Dan did the Tough Mudder 15km obstacle course challenge to raise £5,000 for the charity CMV Action, and since then have raised more.
But their main aim is to raise awareness, so that other children and families do not have to face the same heartache.
Helen says: "I still do feel quite guilty, because at the end of the day I caught the virus. So what if I hadn't? If I hadn't caught that virus, Alfie would be your average child and wouldn't have to live such a challenging life.
'I don't think that guilt will ever go, I just try and bury it.'
7
Helen and husband Dan want to raise awareness, so that other children and families do not have to face the same heartache as they have
Credit: supplied
7
Alfie is adored by his older sisters Evie, 12, Millie, 10, and Chloe, eight
Credit: supplied
WHAT MUMS SHOULD BE WARNED
ADVICE from the NHS to pregnant women, or those trying for a baby:
Wash hands using soap and water, especially after changing nappies or wiping your children's snotty noses.
Avoid sharing food, e.g. do not finish your children's food.
Do not share cutlery, straws or drinking glasses with your children
Never put your children's dummies in your own mouth.
Kiss your children on the forehead - avoid kissing them on the mouth
Regularly wash toys or other items that may have young children's saliva or pee on them
If you are unwell with an unexplained fever or rash during early pregnancy, ask your midwife or doctor for a test for CMV infection
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
14 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
My world shattered when ‘kissing virus' left our son quadriplegic – every mum needs to know 4 rules to stop it spreading
YOU wouldn't think twice about kissing your kids, sharing food with them or perhaps putting their dummy in your mouth to clean it. But a mum is urging parents to be aware that this is in fact, NHS advice. Helen Harrison, 40, was excited to have her fourth child and first son, Alfie. But he was born disabled after she unknowingly caught a common virus that harms unborn babies, and yet, most parents or midwives have even heard of it. 7 Helen Harrison, 40, unknowingly caught cytomegalovirus (CMV) while pregnant Credit: supplied 7 The mum-of-four passed on the common virus to baby Alfie in the womb Credit: supplied 7 Severely disabled Alfie, now six, has cerebral palsy, epilepsy, limited vision and a learning disability due to the virus Credit: supplied Now six years old, severely disabled Alfie has Helen, of Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire, says: 'He can't do anything for himself, and probably never will.' Helen feels she was 'let down' by the NHS, having never been told about Helen, married to Dan, 42, a construction firm boss, tells Sun Health: "I've never walked into a doctor's surgery and seen a poster about CMV saying, don't share your children's food or cutlery, or kiss them on the mouth. "It's the summer months, you wouldn't hesitate to let your child have a lick of your ice cream. "It makes me really cross that you're not warned about CMV. I just feel a bit let down.' It's thought health chiefs don't want to unnecessarily scare parents about a virus that is so common, so easily spread but for most, has little consequences. "Most babies with congenital CMV do not have any symptoms," the For some, like Alfie, the impact is life-limiting. Up to 4,000 babies are born with CMV every year, according to Dr Helen Payne, a leading CMV researcher at London's Imperial College and St Mary's Hospital. Of those, an estimated 800 have long-term consequences, such as deafness or learning disabilities, while 200 suffer as severely as Alfie. The signs of common virus that could be deadly to babies - and how to spot them in your tot Dr Payne says: "It's upsetting that a condition that is so widespread and profoundly affects some infants is barely known by the public, especially when there are actions that can be done to prevent infection." CMV is a common bug that usually has no symptoms, but for some, may cause the sniffles, a rash or temperature. Professor Hermione Lyall, Britain's leading clinical expert in CMV, based at St Mary's Hospital, says: 'Generally speaking, most of us have it as we grow up and grow older, but it never really does us any harm. 'It only really causes a problem if you are a baby in the womb and you haven't yet developed an immune system, or if you're somebody who's immunosuppressed.' The bug can be passed between people in close contact through bodily fluids, including saliva, urine and faeces. It can therefore spread when sharing cutlery, straws or dummies and from mouth-to-mouth contact, such as kissing. Pregnant women who work closely with children or already have a young family are more at risk of getting CMV, the NHS says. Official advice to pregnant women or those around expectant mums is to follow four important rules (scroll down for more information). 1. Wash hands with soap after changing nappies or wiping kids' noses 2. Avoid sharing food & drink with children, including glasses, straws & cutlery 3. Never put children's dummies in your own mouth 4. Kiss your children on the forehead, not the mouth 'Burst into tears' Prof Lyall says midwives don't receive extensive training on CMV. "We got hold of the main textbook for midwives, and there was about six lines on CMV, and it's not really correct or relevant to the modern world at all,' she says. 'Most people know about avoiding cat litter in pregnancy because you don't want to get toxoplasmosis, or about avoiding soft cheese because you don't want to get listeria. 'But the chances of getting either of these infections are absolutely minuscule, less than 20 cases a year, whereas there are up to 4,000 children a year born in the UK with CMV.' A former primary school teacher, Helen had a 'textbook pregnancy' before Alfie came along. 'He was born in my trousers at the front door of the hospital,' Helen recalls. A crash team rushed to the site and noticed Alfie had a pinprick rash all over his body. Worried about the shock of the freezing December weather, they whisked him away to the Special Care Baby Unit. At first, the doctors and nurses didn't seem too concerned. 7 Alfie cannot walk, stand or feed himself but his 'laughs and smiles' delight his devoted parents and sisters Credit: supplied 7 Helen feels 'let down' by the NHS, having never been told about the virus Credit: supplied But the following morning, when Alfie's father Dan arrived, the couple was ushered into a side room. It's just that total shock. I think I had that naïve belief that it would never happen to me They were told that a brain scan had revealed multiple abnormalities and Alfie's liver and spleen were enlarged. The news was devastating for the young couple. 'We burst into tears,' says Helen, who says they were not treated with compassion. A paediatrician allegedly told Dan: 'You need to sort yourself out and man up. Your wife needs you.' Helen says: 'They started asking lots of questions - what was the pregnancy like? Did I have any 'Did I follow the guidelines of what you should and shouldn't eat? I felt they were blaming me.' With no clear answers, the hospital contacted the specialist infectious diseases team at St Mary's Hospital, London , who recommended Alfie was tested for CMV. His viral load was then discovered to be 'sky high'. He was immediately given medication, which reduced the infection, but could not undo the damage to his brain. Helen says: 'It's just that total shock. I think I had that naïve belief that it would never happen to me.' Dr Payne says that the most dangerous time for a foetus is the first three months of pregnancy. But treating the mum can prevent the virus being transmitted to the baby. 'He laughs, he smiles' She is among experts calling for screening of all pregnant women, as is the case in parts of France, Spain and Greece, as well as in Ontario, The UK's National Screening Committee has to consider whether a screening programme for any condition is worthwhile - in this case, including whether it will cause alarm to parents. A screening programme for CVM was rejected in 2017 and 2022. The NSC is due to consider testing both mothers and babies for CMV this summer, with an announcement expected in the autumn. Dr Lyall says: 'There's competition from all kinds of things, such as screening for cancer, genetic diseases or metabolic diseases. 'The thing that is very tough for us is the fact that there's an intervention that can prevent the virus from going across and causing damage to a baby, and we're not able to offer that to women because we don't diagnose that the infection is there. "It's only the more severe babies that get picked up, because we're not screening for it, and so it's just not out there that this is something that people need to worry about in pregnancy." The experts are also calling for CMV to be included in the heel prick test given to every newborn baby in the UK at five days, so that those affected can be identified quickly. The charity That includes direct costs to the NHS and social services, workdays lost by parents plus the expense of therapies and equipment. Helen cares for Alfie full time, but would like to return to work in the special needs sector. I visit the family in their comfortable, detached home, and Alfie seems like a happy little boy. Dressed in a dinosaur T-shirt and leggings, he lies on a play mat surrounded by sensory toys, contentedly gurgling. Though he cannot speak, Helen says he is very communicative. Sometimes Dan and I wonder what Alfie would be like if he hadn't been affected by CMV, would he be running around, terrorizing his sisters? Helen 'He laughs, he smiles,' she says. 'He'll scream and shout if he's not happy. He hasn't got words, but he's definitely got his own voice. "If he's upset, then it takes a while to sort of soothe him. And you wish, God, I just wish he could just tell me what is wrong." Alfie can't eat solid foods, so doctors suggested a feeding peg that would deliver liquid food straight into his stomach via a tube. Helen was against the idea, unless Alfie were to stop thriving. 'We've worked so hard to keep him orally fed,' she says. 'He really enjoys flavoursome foods. Just last night, we were around at my parents' and he was given a spoonful of lemon meringue pie filling, and then he's immediately opening his mouth for the next spoonful. It's just such a joy. 'And it is a social thing as well to eat, so we just don't want him to lose that.' Alfie attends a special needs school where he loves interacting with other children. He is also adored by his older sisters Evie, 12, Millie, 10, and Chloe , eight. "Sometimes Dan and I wonder what Alfie would be like if he hadn't been affected by CMV, would he be running around, terrorizing his sisters?' says Helen. He will always carry the virus, but it is now inactive. In 2019, Helen and Dan did the Tough Mudder 15km obstacle course challenge to raise £5,000 for the charity CMV Action, and since then have raised more. But their main aim is to raise awareness, so that other children and families do not have to face the same heartache. Helen says: "I still do feel quite guilty, because at the end of the day I caught the virus. So what if I hadn't? If I hadn't caught that virus, Alfie would be your average child and wouldn't have to live such a challenging life. 'I don't think that guilt will ever go, I just try and bury it.' 7 Helen and husband Dan want to raise awareness, so that other children and families do not have to face the same heartache as they have Credit: supplied 7 Alfie is adored by his older sisters Evie, 12, Millie, 10, and Chloe, eight Credit: supplied WHAT MUMS SHOULD BE WARNED ADVICE from the NHS to pregnant women, or those trying for a baby: Wash hands using soap and water, especially after changing nappies or wiping your children's snotty noses. Avoid sharing food, e.g. do not finish your children's food. Do not share cutlery, straws or drinking glasses with your children Never put your children's dummies in your own mouth. Kiss your children on the forehead - avoid kissing them on the mouth Regularly wash toys or other items that may have young children's saliva or pee on them If you are unwell with an unexplained fever or rash during early pregnancy, ask your midwife or doctor for a test for CMV infection
Irish Post
17 hours ago
- Irish Post
Dermot Murnaghan thanks fans for ‘support and encouragement' after revealing prostate cancer diagnosis
FORMER news reporter Dermot Murnagahn has thanked his fans for their outpouring of support after he revealed he has been diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer. The journalist, who worked for the BBC and Sky News for a number of years, shared his cancer diagnosis on his social media platforms earlier this week. 'Some personal news, I've been diagnosed with Stage IV advanced prostate cancer,' he said. 'I'm fortunate to have a simply outstanding medical team looking after me, who I can't thank enough - they are administering the best possible care with expertise, compassion and sensitivity,' he added. Former news presenter Dermot Murnaghan has been diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer (Pic: BBC) The TV star, who was born in Devon but raised in Northern Ireland, where his father was from, said he has been 'responding positively' to the 'excellent treatment' he had received so far, and was 'feeling well'. 'I'm blessed to be fortified by the monumental love and support of my wife, family and close friends,' he added. 'Needless to say, my message to all men over 50, in high risk groups, or displaying symptoms, is get yourself tested and campaign for routine prostate screening by the NHS,' he explained. 'Early detection is crucial. And be aware, this disease can sometimes progress rapidly without obvious symptoms.' He plans to take part in a charity bike ride in September which has been organised by Sir Chris Hoy to raise funds and awareness for cancer charities across the UK. The Olympic gold medallist announced he had been diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer in October 2024. "I'm aiming to take part in Sir Chris Hoy's fundraising charity bike ride in Glasgow in September - please support it and join us if you can," Murnaghan said. In a separate post, the newsman thanked all who sent him messages of support this week. "Just to say thanks to everybody for all the lovely messages of support and encouragement after my diagnosis," he said. "If you'd like to donate to fight this insidious disease- here's my link for the Tour 4," he added. See More: Dermot Murnaghan, Northern Ireland, Prostate Cancer
The Irish Sun
20 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Blockbuster weight loss jabs ‘significantly lower' the risk of dementia
WEIGHT loss jabs may also help ward off dementia, a new study suggests. Researchers found that semaglutide - the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy - could "significantly" slash the risk of the brain-robbing disease in people with 1 Weight loss and antidiabetic jabs like Ozempic and Wegovy could have other health benefits Credit: Getty Study leader Professor Rong Xu said: "There is no cure or effective treatment for dementia, so this new study provides real-world evidence for its potential impact on preventing or slowing dementia development among a high risk population." Semaglutide, part of a group of drugs called GLP-1 agonists, was originally invented to treat But trials found it could also cause major weight loss - about 10 to 15 per cent of body weight over 18 months. It triggers fullness hormones in the gut to prevent hunger and Semaglutide has already been found to lower the risk of heart disease, bowel cancer and fertility issues. But researchers at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine in The syndrome occurs when brain cells are damaged and their connections stop working properly. That damage, which worsens over time, impacts Most read in Health It can be caused by various conditions and events, including obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, traumatic brain injury and stroke. Previous research has indicated that 45 per cent of dementia cases could be prevented by addressing these "modifiable risk factors". Feeling Full Naturally: Top 5 Foods That Act Like Weight Loss Jabs The new study, published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, analysed the electronic records of nearly 1.7million American patients with type 2 diabetes over three years. Patients taking semaglutide had a "significantly lower" risk of developing Alzheimer's disease-related dementia compared to those on seven other antidiabetic medications. This included other types of GLP-1R-targeting drugs. The results were more "profound" in women and older adults. Prof Xu said the findings support the idea that semaglutide could prevent dementia. But she cautioned that more research is needed. "Our results indicate that research into semaglutide's use for dementia prevention will need to be further investigated through randomised clinical trials," Prof Xu added. Are you eligible for weight loss jabs on the NHS? By Sam Blanchard, Health Correspondent THEY are arguably the biggest medical breakthrough of recent times. And now, so-called 'fat jabs' are available to many more Brits on the NHS. In what marks the dawn of a new era, GPs have begun prescribing the weight loss jab More than three million people are thought to be eligible for tirzepatide - the active drug in Mounjaro - the strongest jab on the market. Health chiefs hope it will turn the tide on England's obesity crisis which has Injections including Ozempic and Wegovy have previously only been available for type 2 diabetes or through specialist slimming clinics. Family doctors will now be encouraged to prescribe them in a bid to get more people on the meds. Experts hope widespread use will slash work sick days and boost the economy, while reducing rates of cancer, heart disease and dementia. But demand for the drugs is already huge and NHS clinics cannot dish them out fast enough. Who is eligible in the new rollout? The new rollout allows GPs to prescribe tirzepatide for weight loss, starting with those patients whose weight places them at greatest health risk. Top of the list will be those with a A BMI of 40 is roughly equal to weighing 16st (102kg) for an average height 5'3' woman, or 19st 6lbs (123kg) for an average 5'9' man. Weight-related conditions include Patients will likely be expected to have tried diet and exercise first before being offered a jab. Many are likely to miss out, as some 13.5million adults in England are obese but only 3.4million are estimated to be eligible in the rollout. Professor Kamila Hawthorne, chair of the Royal College of GPs, said: 'Currently only patients who meet certain criteria - those who could benefit most - are eligible to be prescribed weight loss drugs on the NHS, and GPs will also need to follow local guidelines when prescribing. 'If your practice advises you that they won't be able to provide weight loss medication, these will likely be the reasons why. 'We appreciate the idea of weight loss medication is an attractive prospect to many patients - and they do have a lot of potential benefits for patients and may be a valuable tool as we try to tackle obesity at a national level – but it's important these medications aren't seen as a silver bullet. 'Weight loss drugs do not come without risk, they can cause side effects which range in seriousness, and they won't be suitable for everyone. 'It's important we don't lose sight of the role lifestyle factors play in achieving a healthy weight. 'The roll out of weight loss medications as a treatment for obesity must not come at the expense of other weight loss services.' If you are eligible but your GP denies you a prescription, you may be able to ask for a referral to specialist weight management services. Known as tier 2 and tier 3 weight management services, they may prescribe the jabs after other weight loss attempts. Many people are expected to find it easier to go private, with the injections widely available from high street pharmacies like Boots, Superdrug, and even Asda. There are also numerous online pharmacies offering the drugs. Buying the drugs online might seem like the faster fix – but buyer beware. Slimming success stories are everywhere but so, too, are tales of horror. Many patients have been duped by dodgy sellers, suffered severe Bargain prices, easy tick-box applications, or prescriptions with no follow-up, should all be red flags to online shoppers.
