Skip to main content

Torch Infection What is Torch Causes Symptoms Diagnosis and Treatment

Torch Infection An Overview:

TORCH complex (also known as STORCH, TORCHES or the TORCH infections) is a medical acronym for a set of perinatal infections(i.e. infections that are passed from a pregnant woman to her fetus). TORCH infections can lead to severe fetal anomalies or even fetal loss. They are a group of viral, bacterial, and protozoan infections that gain access to the fetal bloodstream transplacentally via the chorionic villi. Hematogenous transmission may occur at any time during gestation or occasionally at the time of delivery via maternal-to-fetal transfusion.

the acronym is spelt out as follows:
Torch Infection What is Torch Causes Symptoms Diagnosis and Treatment

1. T Toxoplasmosis / Toxoplasma gondii

2. O – Other infections (see below)

3. R Rubella

4. C Cytomegalovirus

5. H Herpes simplex virus-2

The "other agents" included under O are Coxsackievirus, Syphilis,(Syphilis in Pregnancy and Neonate Read here ) Varicella-Zoster Virus, HIV(HIV and Its diagnosis an Overview), and Parvovirus B19.

Click on the specific infection for individual details:

Hepatitis B may also be included among "other agents", but the hepatitis B virus is a large virus and does not cross the placenta, hence it cannot infect the fetus unless there have been breaks in the maternal-fetal barrier, such as can occur in bleeding during childbirth or amniocentesis

The acronym has also been listed as TORCHES, for TOxoplasmosis, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, HErpes simplex, Syphilis

Index of Suspicion:

          When do you think of TORCH infections?
          IUGR infants
          HSM
          Thrombocytopenia
          Unusual rash
          Concerning maternal history
          “Classic” findings of any specific infection

Diagnosing TORCH Infection

!!!!!!DO NOT USE TORCH TITERS!!!!!!
          Good maternal/prenatal history
          Remember most infections of concern are mild illnesses often unrecognized
          A thorough exam of the infant
          Directed labs/studies based on most likely diagnosis…
          Again, DO NOT USE TORCH TITERS!

Screening TORCH Infection

          A retrospective study of 75/182 infants with IUGR who were screened for TORCH infections
          1/75 with clinical findings, 11/75 with abnormal lab findings
          All patients screened:
          TORCH titers, urine CMV culture, head ultrasound,
          Only 3 diagnosed with an infection
          NONE by TORCH titer!!
          Overall cost of all tests = $51,715
          “Shotgun” screening approach NOT cost effective nor particularly useful
          Diagnostic workup should be logical and directed by history/exam findings

Review: Which TORCH Infection Presents With…

Snuffles?

          syphilis

Chorioretinitis, hydrocephalus, and intracranial calcifications?

          toxo

Blueberry muffin lesions?

          rubella

Periventricular calcifications? 

          CMV

No symptoms?

          All of them

Which TORCH Infections Can Absolutely Be Prevented?

          Rubella
          Syphilis

When Are TORCH Titers Helpful in Diagnosing Congenital Infection?

          Never


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Human Parasites, Types of Parasites, and Classification

Parasite: A parasite is a living organism which gets nutrition and protection from another organism where it lives. Parasites enter into the human body through mouth, skin and genitalia. In this article, we will generally discuss the types and classification of parasites. It is important from an academic point of view. Those parasites are harmful, which derives their nutrition and other benefits from the host and host get nothing in return but suffers from some injury. Types of Parasites Ecto-parasite: An ectoparasite lives outside on the surface of the body of the host. Endo-parasite: An endo-parasite lives inside the body of the host, it lives in the blood, tissues, body cavities, digestive tract or other organs. Temporary parasite: A temporary parasite visits its host for a short period of time. Permanent parasite: Permanent parasite lives its whole life in the host. Facultative parasite: A facultative parasite can live both independently and dependently. It lives in the

How to taper off, wean off beta blocker, atenolol, Propranolol, Metoprolol

Beta blockers include, atenolol (Tenormin), propranolol (Inderal ) and metoprolol (Lopressor) and are used to treat high blood pressure, certain cardiac problems, migraine and few other conditions. People usually take atenolol, propranolol or metoprolol for many years as a treatment of high blood pressure or after having an episode of heart attack . Sometimes, it becomes necessary to withdraw these beta blockers due to their potential side effects that trouble the patients or sometimes doctor wants to change the drug and shift the patient to some other anti-hypertensive medicine. No matter whatever the cause is, whenever, a patient who has been using a beta blocker for a long period of time, and he needs to be stopped from further usage of that beta blocker, must not stop taking it. One should taper off the dose of a beta blocker. Now a question arises how to wean off or taper off a beta blocker? The method of tapering off beta blocker varies from individual to individual. Allow you