TORCH infections during pregnancy — what you need to know

Did you know TORCH Infection can cause spontaneous abortions, intrauterine fetal death and birth defects?

By: Bhavyajyoti Chilukoti | | Published: May 25, 2017 3:22 pm

When pregnant, lab visits and routine checkups are a must as they help you to know whether the mother and baby are doing fine. Missing out on a single test or a symptom can lead to complications in the growing fetus and the mother as well. And one such severe infection that can affect a woman and the growing fetus during pregnancy is TORCH infections. It comprises Toxoplasmosis, Other (syphilis, varicella-zoster, parvovirus B19), Rubella, Cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Herpes infections. According to a study in Current Women’s Health Reports [1], perinatal infections (infections that can be transmitted from mother to baby during pregnancy or delivery) accounts to 2 – 3 % of all congenital anomalies, of which TORCH infections are the most common ones. Also Read - Pregnancy Tip #38 – Avoid cleaning cat litter when pregnant

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If your doctor suspects of infections, you might be advised to get screened for TORCH infections. This is because these infections can pass the placental barrier and affect the growing fetus leading to severe complications although it causes asymptomatic or mild infection in the mother. It can result in spontaneous abortions, intrauterine fetal death, congenital anomalies, growth retardation, stillbirth and premature delivery. Once infected, treatment of maternal infection does not have any impact on the fetal health. This is the reason why it is important to diagnose the infection at an early stage and monitor fetal growth after the diagnosis. Here is a complete guide to prenatal tests.

Diagnosis of TORCH infections

It is a blood test used to screen the mother for toxoplasmosis, other (syphilis, varicella-zoster, parvovirus B19), rubella, cytomegalovirus, Herpes I & II.

Toxoplasmosis: It is caused by a parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, which is transmitted through contaminated food (including undercooked meat) and water. It is usually asymptomatic and during pregnancy, it can lead to pregnancy loss, stillbirth and intrauterine malformations in the fetus.

Rubella: This infection is transmitted from mother to the fetus through the placenta and hence, put you at risk of miscarriage. Rubella infection can also lead to serious birth defects like hearing impairment and cardiac problems and fetal death. Yu can get a rubella vaccine shot before pregnancy to lower the risk. Here’s more on first trimester tests you can t miss out on.

Cytomegalovirus: A viral infection, cytomegalovirus (CMV) is transmitted through direct contact with infected urine or saliva from young children or through sexual activity. The common disabilities in infants include loss of vision, hearing and cognitive impairment, intrauterine growth retardation, jaundice, microcephaly and anaemia to name a few.

Herpes: Caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV), herpes is a sexually transmitted disease. HSV2 is a usually transmitted sexually, whereas HSV1 during childhood by non-sexual contacts. Asymptomatic, herpes is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in newborns. The virus can be transmitted from mother to the baby through birth canal. Genital herpes infection during pregnancy can cause premature births, congenital herpes and spontaneous abortion.

References:

1. Stegmann BJ, Carey JC. TORCH Infections. Toxoplasmosis, Other (syphilis, varicella-zoster, parvovirus B19), Rubella, Cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Herpes infections. Curr Womens Health Rep. 2002 Aug;2(4):253-8. Review. PubMed PMID: 12150751.

2. Prasoona KR, Srinadh B, Sunitha T, Sujatha M, Deepika ML, Vijaya Lakshmi B, Ramaiah A, Jyothy A. Seroprevalence and Influence of Torch Infections in High Risk Pregnant Women: A Large Study from South India. J Obstet Gynaecol India. 2015 Oct;65(5):301-9. doi: 10.1007/s13224-014-0615-3. Epub 2014 Oct 29. PubMed PMID: 26405399; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4579149.

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Published : May 25, 2017 3:22 pm

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