Epidemiology of TORCH Infections and Understanding the Serology in Their Diagnosis

Abstract

TORCH, as coined by Nahmias et al. consists of Toxoplasmosis, other infections (includes, syphilis, HIV, Hepatitis viruses, varicella virus and Parvovirus B19), Rubella, Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Herpes simplex virus. These infections are transmitted prenatally, perinatally, and postnatally through transplacental passage, contact with blood and vaginal secretions or from exposure to breast milk for CMV, HIV and HSV and infection generally manifests at birth, in infancy or in later years of life. The disease burden is maximum in low to middle-income countries. As treatment and prevention strategies are available for most of these infections, early recognition including prenatal serological screening are important. But routine full screening of ‘TORCH panel” is not recommended in low risk asymptomatic pregnant women. It is indicated in pregnancies with congenital infections, fetal hydrops, fetal brain lesions, unexplained IUGR, in pregnant women with non-vesicular rash or other signs and symptoms suggestive of systemic infections or in women with a history of contact with a person with such illness. The following article highlights the importance of serological tests for the diagnosis of TORCH infections.

Keywords

Toxoplasma - Rubella - Cytomegalovirus - Human herpes virus - Treponema - Syphilis

Publication History

Received: 07 August 2019

Accepted: 12 November 2019

Article published online:
05 May 2023