Happiness mother after declared pregnancy will feel more complete if content Mother also confirmed in good condition. One of the checks that can be doneto know this is a test TORCH.
The TORCH test is an examination to detect disease or infection in pregnant women to prevent complications in their babies. The term TORCH is an abbreviation of Toxoplasmosis,Othe disease (other infectious diseases), Rubella (German measles), Cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Herpes.
TORCH Disease in Pregnant Women and Its Impact on Babies
TORCH disease is very important to watch out for, because if a pregnant woman is infected with TORCH during pregnancy, her fetus can also be infected.
The fetus is vulnerable to the dangers of infection, especially during the first 3-4 months of pregnancy. Infection in the fetus can cause a variety of problems, ranging from brain and nervous system disorders, growth retardation, to congenital abnormalities.
The following is an explanation of each disease included in TORCH:
1. Toxoplasmosiss
This disease can arise when the body is infected by Toxoplasmagondii, which is a parasite that can be found in cat litter, undercooked meat, and raw eggs. Although it does not cause abnormalities in the fetus during pregnancy, toxoplasmosis can cause the baby to experience deafness or mental retardation after birth.
2. Rubella
Rubella is the most dangerous disease for the fetus if it occurs in pregnant women in early pregnancy. Besides being able to cause miscarriage, rubella can also cause congenital rubella syndrome which causes birth defects, such as deafness, cataracts, congenital heart disease, and growth disorders.
3. Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is in the same family as the herpes virus. In adults, this viral infection usually causes no symptoms. However, when it occurs in the fetus, CMV infection can cause hearing loss, epilepsy, and intellectual impairment.
4. Herpes scomplex
The herpes simplex virus is usually passed from mother to baby during delivery as the baby passes through the birth canal. Even so, babies can also be infected with this virus while in the womb.
Herpes simplex infection can cause brain damage, respiratory problems, and seizures in babies. Symptoms of this disease usually only appear after the baby is 2 weeks old.
In addition to the four diseases above, there are also other diseases that can be transmitted by pregnant women to their babies during pregnancy or childbirth, namely hepatitis B, HIV, syphilis, chickenpox, measles, mumps, Epstein-Barr virus infection, and viral infections. human parvovirus.
Important reasons pregnant women are advised to take the TORCH test
Through the TORCH test, doctors can determine whether a pregnant woman is suffering from the above infectious diseases. The results of the TORCH test will be indicated by a 'positive' or 'negative' sign.
If the test result is negative, it means that you are not currently infected and have never been infected with the disease before. On the other hand, if the result is positive, the doctor will confirm whether the infection is still active or not.
So, the important reason behind the TORCH test is that the doctor can treat it if an infection is found in the pregnant woman's body. That way, complications in the baby can be prevented.
Apart from undergoing the TORCH test, pregnant women also need to have regular pregnancy check-ups. If you experience symptoms that are not normal, immediately consult a gynecologist so that safe and appropriate treatment can be given.
