Mother's happiness after knowing that she is pregnant will feel more complete after being able to ensure the womb is in a healthy state. One medical examination that can be done is to undergo a blood test using the TORCH method.
The aim is to help determine if the mother has an infectious disease that is at risk of being passed on to the fetus. The term TORCH itself stands for:
- Toxoplasmosis;
- Other diseases (other infectious diseases), including syphilis, HIV, and measles;
- Rubella (German measles);
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV);
- Herpes simplex.
Pregnant women who specifically experience symptoms of one or more in the TORCH disease group, need to do an examination. If a pregnant woman is infected by certain germs during pregnancy, it does not rule out the possibility that the fetus is also infected. Babies can get infections from their mothers while still in the womb or during labor. This is because certain diseases can indeed penetrate the placenta. In addition, the fetus is more sensitive to the danger of infection, especially during the first 3-4 months of pregnancy
Fetal infections can cause serious problems, including brain and nervous system disorders, growth retardation, and birth defects that include:
- Heart problems
- Deaf
- Cataract
- Convulsions
- Jaundice or jaundice
- Intellectual retardation
- Low platelet levels
The following is a more detailed explanation of TORCH's diseases.
Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis can occur when the body is entered by the parasite T. Gondii, a parasite found in cat feces, consumption of undercooked meat, and raw eggs. This parasite can enter the body through the mouth, for example not washing hands after cleaning cat feces. Infants infected with toxoplasmosis in the womb usually do not show symptoms for several years.
Rubella
Rubella is the most dangerous disease to the fetus if the mother is infected with this disease in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy. This disease can cause miscarriages and stillbirths. In addition, rubella can cause fetal organ defects, such as heart defects, brain damage, hearing loss, cataracts, or other vision problems. Growth retardation can also be an effect.
Rubella examination and vaccination itself is important before marriage or before planning a pregnancy. This is because the MMR vaccination (measles, mumps, rubella) for rubella can prevent the onset of rubella in the mother, which ultimately also helps protect the fetus. MMR vaccine should be given at least one month before pregnancy. This is because the MMR vaccine is at risk of causing rubella in the fetus.
In addition, what you need to do if symptoms are indicated in the form of a skin rash due to rubella or you have interacted with someone who has a skin rash, immediately check yourself in the maternity hospital. If Mother has never been given the rubella vaccine or is unsure of ever getting one, the doctor will offer the MMR vaccine six weeks after giving birth.
Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
The CMV virus is still a family with the herpes virus. In adults who are infected, symptoms are usually not visible, but CMV can cause hearing loss, epilepsy, and intellectual disability to the developing fetus.
Simplex Herpes
The herpes simplex virus is usually transmitted from mother to fetus when passing through the baby's birth canal during labor. Babies may also be infected with this virus while still in the womb. Infection can cause a variety of serious problems in infants, including brain damage, respiratory problems, and seizures. Symptoms usually appear in the second week of the baby's age.
Other Diseases
The category of "other diseases" can include a number of different infectious diseases that are at risk of transmitting pregnant women to infants during pregnancy or childbirth, such as Hepatitis B, HIV, syphilis, chickenpox, measles, mumps, Epstein-Barr virus, and human parvovirus.
TORCH Examination Results
The results of the TORCH examination will explain whether you are currently experiencing an infectious disease or have suffered from an infectious disease recently. Some tests for TORCH are usually done separately, both before pregnancy and early in pregnancy.
The results will be determined by 'positive' or 'negative' results. Negative test results are considered normal, in other words, you are not having an infection or have a history of infection in the past. On the other hand, a positive result means that it must be confirmed again whether the infection in the body of the mother is active which is indicated by the presence of IgM antibodies or an infection that has been suffered which is marked by IgG antibodies.
In general, if you find an infectious disease infection in your body, your doctor can recommend treatment for you. Early detection and treatment of this infection is very important to prevent complications in newborns.
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