Abstract

The TORCH agents-toxoplasmosis, rubella virus, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and herpes simplex virus (HSV) are the most common infectious agents causing asymptomatic or mild infection in the mother but much more serious consequences in the fetus. The present study was conducted to assess torch infection in high- risk pregnant women. Materials & Methods: 140 high risk pregnant (HRP) females were enrolled and parameter such as maternal age, gravida, consanguinity, religion, maternal education, maternal occupation, and family income were collected. Patients were divided into 2 groups of 70 each. Group I were pregnant women with fetal congenital malformation in the present pregnancy and group II were pregnant women with BOH such as repeated abortions/ intrauterine death/fetal congenital malformation/early neonatal deaths/preterm labour. Results: Gravida1 was seen in 40% and 20%, 2 in 20% and 25%, >3 in 40% and 65%, maternal age<25 years was seen in 60% and 65%, 26-29 years in 20% and 25%, >30 years in 20% and 10%. Education was primary in 38% and 48% and secondary & above in 62% and 52% in group I and group II respectively. The difference was non- significant (P> 0.05). Seropositivity for IgG for Toxoplasma was 25% and 32%, for Rubella was 85% and 74%, for CMV was 84% and 90% and for HSV was 68% and 61%, seropositivity for IgG & IgM for Toxoplasma was 12% and 6%, for Rubella was 5% and 7%, for CMV was 8% and 4% and for HSV was 4% and 6% in group I and II respectively. The difference was non- significant (P> 0.05). Conclusion: Parameters such as maternal age of <25 years, primigravida led to congenital malformation.

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