TORCH infection in women with bad obstetric history--a pilot study in Kumaon region

Abstract

TORCH infections in the mother are transmissible to fetus in the womb or during the birth process and cause a cluster of symptomatic birth defects. In mother they are inapparent or asymptomatic and hence difficult to diagnose clinically. Over a nine months period 20 pregnant women with bad obstetric history were-studied. Seropositivity of Toxoplasma, rubella, CMV, and HSV infections (TORCH) were demonstrated by the presence of IgM and IgG antibodies by ELISA method. It was found that, IgM antibodies were positive in 4 cases (20%) for Toxoplasma, 4 cases (28.6%) for rubella and 4 cases (26.7%) for CMV and HSV each. IgG antibodies were positive in 11cases (55%) for Toxoplasma, 10 cases (66.6%) for rubella, 14 cases (93%) for CMV and 11 (73%) for HSV. Therefore all antenatal cases with BOH should be routinely screened for TORCH as early diagnosis and appropriate intervention will help in proper management and fetal outcome.