Screen-detected congenital CMV: no eye disease found in asymptomatic babies

The edition in brief

Of 394 infants found to have congenital CMV on Ontario's newborn dried-blood-spot screening, 347 had eye examinations. Only two had CMV-related chorioretinal scars — both symptomatic and already referred on clinical grounds — and none of the asymptomatic infants had CMV-related eye findings. Guidelines still recommend examining all affected infants, but the data support a discussion about a risk-based approach. A Lancet Child & Adolescent Health analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study found that Asia-Pacific carries 41% of the world's adolescent disease burden; mental disorders and other non-communicable diseases dominate, overweight is rising in every country, and anaemia in girls is falling more slowly than in boys. A Thai double-blind trial of buccal 50% dextrose for 400 neonates with persistent asymptomatic hypoglycaemia raised glucose more than placebo but did not significantly reduce IV dextrose use (4.9% vs 8.7%). Nine-year follow-up of a small randomised cohort treated for zone II retinopathy of prematurity found similar acuity and refraction after ranibizumab or laser, with some structural differences of uncertain meaning. The pearl covers first-line management of asymptomatic neonatal hypoglycaemia.