TIMELY DIAGNOSIS OF CONGENITAL INFECTIONS

The acronym TORCH has served to increase awareness of congenital infec tions; however, this collective term suggests that the clinical manife stations of congenital infections are not distinguishable by pathogen. Although some clinical features may be common to several of these inf ections, a Congenital infection caused by one pathogen generally can b e distinguished from infection caused by another pathogen on a clinica l basis. Pediatricians need to be aware of the prominent features of e ach congenital infection rather than to consider them collectively. Th is article focuses on the prominent features of the more common congen ital infections, suggests a specific diagnostic approach, and reviews the available therapeutic strategies.