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Screening for TORCH infections in pregnant women: a report from Delhi
1Department of Microbiology, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, India.
Primary TORCH infections (toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2) in the mother can lead to severe fetal anomalies or even fetal loss. A prospective study was designed to detect the seroprevalence of IgM antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii, rubella virus and cytomegalovirus and IgG antibodies to herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2. One hundred and twenty pregnant women presenting to the antenatal clinic of a tertiary health center were included in this study. Out of these 120 women 112 (93.4%) had evidence of one or more infections. Prevalence of IgG antibodies to HSV was 70%. Seropositivities for toxoplasmosis, rubella and CMV respectively were 11.6, 8.3 and 20.8%. Our data demonstrating high frequency of primary infections during pregnancy support the conclusion that routine prenatal TORCH screening is justified.
Primary TORCH infections (toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2) in the mother can lead to severe fetal anomalies or even fetal loss. A prospective study was designed to detect the seroprevalence of IgM antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii, rubella virus and cytomegalovirus and IgG antibodies to herpes simplex virus type 1 and 2. One hundred and twenty pregnant women presenting to the antenatal clinic of a tertiary health center were included in this study. Out of these 120 women 112 (93.4%) had evidence of one or more infections. Prevalence of IgG antibodies to HSV was 70%. Seropositivities for toxoplasmosis, rubella and CMV respectively were 11.6, 8.3 and 20.8%. Our data demonstrating high frequency of primary infections during pregnancy support the conclusion that routine prenatal TORCH screening is justified.