HIV/AIDS Glossary

A herpesvirus that can cause infection in many parts of the body. Typically, only people with weakened immune systems become seriously ill from cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection. In people with HIV, CMV can cause serious illnesses, including pneumonia (infection of the lungs), gastroenteritis (infection of the gastrointestinal tract), encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), or retinitis (infection of the eye). CMV infection that begins more than one month after birth and affects a body part other than the liver, spleen, or lymph nodes is an AIDS-defining condition in people with HIV.