Abstract
Infections in pregnancy may lead to fetal morbidity and mortality. The major infections
which can be transmitted from the mother to the fetus and can probably result in adverse
consequences in the prenatal period include toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus
(CMV), syphilis, parvovirus, and varicella. Factors determining the risks of transplacental
transmission and associated fetal adverse events include the period of gestation at
which transmission occurs and the immunity status of the mother. No single modality
can diagnose all fetal infections and consequently prenatal diagnosis of fetal manifestations
of infections is frequently made by fetal sonography and serology to identify the
specific infectious agent. Ultrasound is now considered the safest and least invasive
primary tool for the detection and monitoring of antenatal infection. Major findings
in cases of fetal infection are observed in the central nervous system and heart with
parenchymal calcifications, pleural/pericardial effusions, ascites, fetal growth restriction,
oligo-/polyhydramnios and placentomegaly being frequently seen. Various diagnostic
interventions are also performed under ultrasound guidance such as amniocentesis to
determine underlying etiology and cordocentesis to detect fetal anemia. Knowledge
of the various diagnostic modalities is required for appropriate counseling of the
couple and for optimal treatment.
Keywords
Fetal infections - Prenatal diagnostic procedures - Amniocentesis - Ultrasound - Chorionic
villus sampling - Cordocentesis
