What is a blood test for TORCH? Why give it up? Deciphering the analysis and its cost. What is the risk of TORCH disease – infections for a woman during pregnancy. How to take it correctly and when.

By taking a blood test for TORCH infections, a woman insures herself and her baby. The analysis itself is the most important thing during a woman’s pregnancy. The concept of analysis for TORCH includes the identification of five diseases that can be transmitted from mother to baby. If a woman plans to become pregnant, she needs to donate blood for a TORCH test. This way she can protect herself from miscarriage and prevent various infectious diseases and heart defects in the baby.

The word itself - TORCH consists of the names of infections:

• T– Toxoplasmosis.
• O– Infections that may occur during pregnancy.
• P (R) – rubella disease.
• C– Cytomegalovirus infection.
• H – Herpes.

All these infections have exactly the same effect on the baby in the womb. They do not harm the expectant mother, but are genetically transmitted to the fetus. That is, the baby can pick up all these infections. And besides, they influence the formation of its organs. Therefore, the development of various defects and complications in the baby is possible.

Doctors recommend taking this TORCH test before planning a pregnancy, approximately 2-3 months before conception. The presence of infection in the body of the expectant mother does not depend on the woman’s condition; as a rule, these infections occur without any special symptoms.

But they pose a real danger to the fetus and its development. Therefore, in all antenatal clinics this procedure is prescribed either in the early stages or before planning conception. First of all, this is a basic test that all pregnant women undergo.

How to take a blood test for infections

For a woman who wants to get tested before planning to conceive, she needs to follow simple rules in order to get tested correctly. The blood donation procedure itself is standard. You should not eat in the morning; in the evening it is advisable to exclude fatty foods from your diet.

This procedure detects immunoglobulin antibodies. If it is detected in the blood, then there is no infection. If infections are detected, then planning a child should be postponed until the mother has fully recovered, and if necessary, get all vaccinations and be cured.

If a woman is pregnant, then this test is taken early, as soon as she comes to register. If you find that there are no antibodies to any TORCH infection, you should not panic, but just try to avoid diseases.

For example, if a woman does not have protection against toxoplasma, she needs to be careful when cutting raw meat and when working with soil in the garden. Minimize communication with strangers; if there are cats at home, it is advisable to get rid of them. If the results show an infection, you should immediately consult a doctor and he will prescribe the necessary treatment.

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Decoding the analysis results

You can find out and understand the result of the analysis yourself. You just need to know what the test is called and know its result. As you know, the analysis itself is aimed at identifying antibodies to various infections, that is, the body’s ability to resist them. The table shows an example of test decoding:

Infections	IgM	IgM	Decoding
Rubella	Negative	negative	Lack of antibodies, vaccination required
Rubella	Negative	Positively	Immunity is strong, vaccination is not required.
Rubella	Positively	Negative	Need urgent medical care. There is an infection.
Rubella	Positively	Positively	Presence of infection.
Herpes	Negative	Negative	There is no immunity to herpes. Possible infection of the fetus.
Herpes	Negative	Positively	Immunity is strong. There is no threat to the baby.
Herpes	Positively	Negative	Primary disease, urgent treatment is needed.
Herpes	Positively	Positively	Secondary disease. It is not dangerous for the baby, but treatment is required.
Cytomegalovirus	Negative	Negative	Lack of immunity. Danger of fetal infection.
Cytomegalovirus	Negative	Positively	Strong immunity, no risk of disease.
Cytomegalovirus	Positively	Negative	Primary disease of infection. Urgent medical attention is required.
Cytomegalovirus	Positively	Positively	Treatment is required, but there is no threat to the baby.

Any TORCH infection must be detected in a timely manner, otherwise the life and health of the child is at risk, and he will have to live with pathologies and diseases.

Therefore, when planning the birth of a child, it is imperative that you take all these tests two or three months in advance, and if necessary, undergo a course of treatment. The antenatal clinic will tell you everything about this test, its cost, and where to take it.

Why are TORCH infections dangerous for a pregnant woman?

If TORCH infections are detected during pregnancy, then this is primarily dangerous for the development of the fetus. The greatest danger appears in the early stages. This threatens miscarriage, but if the fetus is preserved, then the child may develop various pathologies.

When contracting an infection in the third trimester, the baby develops inflammation of the organs; as a rule, such children subsequently suffer from damage to the central nervous system.

Depending on when a woman fell ill with any TORCH infection, the severity of the consequences for the baby is determined. Therefore, this analysis is very important and necessary; of course, ideally it would be good to undergo it before conception.

Any of these infections affects the fetus and the development of the baby. Each disease brings something of its own that the baby will then have to live with.

• Rubella – heart defects, hearing defects, eye abnormalities, growth retardation, development of diabetes mellitus.
• Cytomegalovirus – possible fetal death. Primary disease is very dangerous for women. If the fetus is preserved, deformity, epilepsy, and cerebral palsy develop.
• Herpes – can cause miscarriage. It also causes congenital jaundice, enlarged liver, spleen, and abnormalities of the nervous system.

As you can see, this analysis is very important for a woman, and it should be done without fail, despite the fact that it is still not cheap. The cost of analysis varies from 4,500 to 5,000 thousand rubles.

But when the life and health of the future little man is at stake, then you should not save, but urgently need to undergo this procedure and, if necessary, receive treatment.

TORCH INFECTIONS. DETECTION AND PREVENTION

Pregnancy is for a woman the most serious test of all that exists in her life. During this period, a woman may experience an exacerbation of chronic pathological processes and a decrease in immunity. This is why a woman during pregnancy becomes vulnerable to infectious diseases. Some infections may be harmless and do not have a significant effect on the body of the mother and child (for example, ARVI), and some may be unsafe for health (HIV infection).

There is a group of infections that are not dangerous for the body of adults, while they are extremely dangerous for the body of children and pregnant women.

It is these infections that include infections of the TORCH complex, the abbreviation is deciphered by the first letters.

• T - means toxoplasmosis (lat. toxoplasmosis)
• O - translated means other infections (lat. others)
• R - rubella virus (lat. rubella)
• C - a dangerous infection called cytomegalovirus (lat. cytomegalovirus)
• H - means (lat. herpes simplex virus)

The letter O (or others) means infections that affect the fetus (hepatitis B, C, syphilis, listeriosis, gonococcal infection). More recently, this list was supplemented by: chicken pox, HIV infection, enterovirus infection.

Today, the group of TORCH infections consists of four diseases: rubella, toxoplasmosis, herpes and cytomegalovirus infection. This means that the letter “O” stands for the vowel “o” in toxoplasmosis.

TORCH infections are specific in that at the time of initial contact with them by a pregnant woman, they are able to have a negative impact on the formation of all organs and tissues of the fetus, in particular on the central nervous system, which increases the risk of miscarriage, the appearance of a stillborn child, the occurrence of congenital deformities and fetal developmental anomalies, birth of disabled children with developmental defects.

As a rule, the appearance of TORCH infections in a pregnant woman is an indication for.

During the period of planning conception or when registering for an already existing pregnancy, a woman must undergo a series of laboratory tests. Among them, one of the most important is the analysis for TORCH infections, although it is not included in the list of mandatory ones and is prescribed at the discretion of the doctor.

Based on the results of the study, the presence in the blood of pathogens of the most dangerous infections for a woman and unborn child is determined: toxoplasmosis (T), hepatitis B, syphilis and others (O), rubella (R), cytomegalovirus (C) and herpes simplex virus (H).

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What tests are done for TORCH infections?

This study is aimed at the possible identification of pathogens of the most dangerous intrauterine infections and sexually transmitted diseases in a woman’s body. Many of these pathologies occur in a latent form, that is, a woman may not experience any symptoms of the disease, but is a carrier of viruses and other pathogenic microflora.

The danger of such a latent course of the disease is that it can be transmitted to the unborn child, causing him numerous disturbances in the functioning of various organs and systems.

A study on TORCH infection aims to identify whether a woman has immunity to major pathologies that threaten termination of pregnancy or the development of serious problems in the embryo. Such diseases pose a particular danger in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, since it is during this period that the formation of the main systems of the fetal body occurs.

Expert opinion

A blood test for TORCH infection is effective method diagnosis of diseases dangerous to the health of the unborn child. It must be taken during the period of planning conception or in the first trimester of pregnancy.

The complex of studies included in the TORCH analysis includes tests to identify the main infectious agents that cause serious diseases. This list includes:

• Toxoplasmosis. This is a disease caused by protozoan intracellular microorganisms, the main carriers of which are cats. Distinctive feature pathology is a long-term nature of the course. The disease can be either acquired or congenital. Toxoplasmosis can trigger the development of diseases such as hepatitis, pneumonia, meningoencephalitis and others.

The inflammatory process when a pathogen enters the body can affect the central nervous system, organs of vision and hearing, and the infection has an extremely negative effect on the liver. During pregnancy, intrauterine infection of the fetus can occur, which often results in spontaneous abortion.

• Various diseases of an infectious nature, which are designated in the abbreviation TORCH by the letter O. This group includes sexually transmitted diseases, such as gonorrhea and syphilis, as well as infections caused by pathogenic microflora - ureaplasma, chlamydia and others. This also includes viral diseases, for example, hepatitis, HIV and others.
• Rubella. This disease is divided into a separate group, which is designated by the letter R. The disease is transmitted by airborne droplets, its causative agent is a very dangerous virus, which is very resistant to environmental factors.
• If a woman has had rubella in childhood, she develops a strong immunity to the infection, and during pregnancy there will be no negative consequences the transferred disease does not affect the condition of the fetus. But if a viral infection develops during pregnancy, the fetus may develop pathologies that are often incompatible with life. Typically, a woman infected with rubella is advised to terminate her pregnancy.
• Cytomegalovirus infection (C). This virus, according to various sources, is present in the body of more than half of women, without causing any unpleasant symptoms. In fact, the disease is chronic, but in most cases it does not manifest itself in any way, and the carrier of the virus is not aware of the presence of it in his body. As the disease develops, the patient's liver cells and other cells increase. internal organs.

CMV is dangerous when a pregnant woman is initially infected, since in this case the disease can be transmitted to the embryo and cause irreparable harm to it. If the results of the TORCH test show the presence of cytomegalovirus in a woman’s blood, she is usually recommended to terminate the pregnancy.

• Herpes (H). As part of the TORCH analysis, the presence of the herpes simplex viruses HSV-1 and HSV-2 in the body is checked. This infection usually affects the mucous membranes of internal organs and the oral cavity, and the HSV-2 virus is transmitted mainly through sexual intercourse, but in the case of oral sexual contact it can also affect the oral mucosa.

If a pregnant woman's test results reveal an infection in the birth canal, she is advised to have a cesarean section during childbirth to avoid infecting the baby.

The combination of all these infections into one group of tests is due to the similarity of their symptoms. In most cases, they resemble signs of colds, respiratory diseases or general fatigue. Women usually do not pay due attention to such ailments and are in no hurry to see a doctor.

Testing for TORCH infections is carried out either using the enzyme immunoassay method or using PCR diagnostics. The results obtained using these techniques may vary slightly.

Using ELISA, it is possible to detect antibodies to infections included in the TORCH complex in the fetus at the early stages of development. If a positive result is obtained, additional studies are carried out to determine the activity of the pathogens; PCR methods are more suitable for this.

Who should take it to?

If a woman is seriously preparing for the birth of a child, she is recommended to undergo examination for the presence of TORCH infections at the stage of planning conception. This analysis is not mandatory, and the gynecologist prescribes it only if the presence of any disease included in this complex is suspected.

If you become pregnant, you need to take the test before 12 weeks. This is due to the fact that most of the diseases from the TORCH list are an absolute indication for abortion, which can be done only until the end of the first trimester without consequences for the woman’s health.

If a woman has any suspicions that she has pathogens, she can independently get tested in any of the accredited laboratories. Usually these doubts are based on a previous course of treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, existing symptoms of herpes, feeling unwell or if your sexual partner has any diseases.

Why do doctors insist on donation during pregnancy?

Any disease from the TORCH complex threatens serious pathologies for the unborn child, so doctors strongly recommend that the woman undergo an examination.

If any pathology is detected at the stage of pregnancy planning, the woman must undergo a full course of treatment for the infection and undergo control tests before the planned conception.

If the analysis for TORCH was done in the first trimester of pregnancy, the doctor decides on the need to interrupt it, depending on the nature of the disease and the degree of risk dangerous consequences for the fetus. Thus, the negative impact on the embryo of various diseases included in the list of TORCH is as follows:

• with rubella, a child may be born with a severe heart defect and may develop diabetes mellitus, serious pathologies of vision and hearing, he will certainly be greatly retarded in mental and physical development;
• when a woman is infected with cytomegalovirus, the embryo almost always dies, and if the pregnancy continues, the child is born with severe damage to the central nervous system, epilepsy, and cerebral palsy;
• with herpes, there is a high probability of termination of pregnancy; if this does not happen, the newborn may be diagnosed with severe liver damage, hepatitis, and pathologies of the nervous system.

Signs of TORCH infection in children

These diseases pose a particular danger in the case of primary infection of a woman during pregnancy, especially during pregnancy. later when it is too late to have an abortion.

Expert opinion

Daria Shirochina (obstetrician-gynecologist)

Cost of TORCH analysis in different laboratories fluctuates around five thousand rubles, but the risk of consequences of infections identified by the results of the study is not commensurate with the amount spent on diagnosis.

Preparation for the event

There are no special rules for passing the TORCH analysis, this standard procedure drawing blood from a vein. On the eve of the study, you should stop eating fatty foods, and a few days before the analysis from any alcoholic beverages. Blood must be donated on an empty stomach; it is recommended not to smoke before the test.

How long does the examination take?

The results of the analysis will be known within 3 - 5 days. This is a standard procedure, and the testing time is approximately the same in all laboratories.

Decoding the results

It is difficult for a woman to independently understand the information received; only a doctor can interpret it correctly, and the possibility of maintaining pregnancy and the scheme of therapeutic measures will depend on this.

Typically, the results of an analysis for TORCH look in the form of a table, which presents a list of diseases for which tests were done to detect antibodies igM and iGG, and in the last column a positive or negative answer to the question about the presence of the pathogen in the blood is displayed. Antibodies of class M indicate the initial stage of development of the disease, and class G - the stage of remission or that the infection occurred a long time ago.

Based on the results of the analysis, it is possible to determine whether the infection was primary, or whether the woman was already a carrier of the infection before pregnancy. Primary infection is indicated by the so-called seroconversion, when, after repeated tests showing negative result, antibodies are detected in the blood serum.

For diseases such as rubella, toxoplasmosis and cytomegalovirus, the results of the analysis and recommendations for further management of pregnancy are as follows:

• In the absence of antibodies of both classes, we can talk about the absence of infection female body, in this case, pregnancy can proceed without any complications if preventive measures are followed.
• The absence of igM antibodies with a positive iG indicator indicates an infectious disease in the recent past.
• With the opposite indicators, we can say that more than a year ago the woman was infected with toxoplasma, and she has immunity to rubella. If the iG indicator exceeds 10 IU/ml, then before the planned conception the woman must undergo vaccination; for other diseases it is necessary constant monitoring the level of antibodies in the blood.

Expert opinion

Daria Shirochina (obstetrician-gynecologist)

If TORCH is diagnosed based on the results of the test acute form infection, termination of pregnancy is necessary for medical reasons.

What to do if antibodies are not detected

If a woman was tested for the TORCH complex while planning a pregnancy, and all indicators were negative, she is recommended to be vaccinated against rubella 3 months before the expected conception.

To avoid getting toxoplasmosis, you need to follow simple preventive recommendations: avoid contact with street cats, observe personal hygiene rules, be careful when cutting meat, and also avoid dishes that are lightly cooked.

All diseases included in the TORCH complex pose a serious danger to the health and life of the unborn child, so a woman should take all measures to early detection possible pathology and take all recommended tests.

Useful video

To decipher the analysis for TORCH infections, watch this video:

TORCH infections are a group of diseases that can be transmitted from a woman to a child in utero. These diseases can cause birth defects and abnormalities. A TORCH test is usually prescribed as part of a comprehensive examination of pregnant women.

What is TORCH and how does this word stand for?

The first letters of the names of infections that are included in the TORCH group are included in this abbreviation. The decryption looks like this:

• T – ;
• O – other infections (chickenpox, parvovirus, listeriosis);
• R – rubella;
• C – cytomegalovirus;
• H – herpes.

Let's take a closer look at each of the diseases.

Toxoplasmosis (T)

This is a well-known infection that affects about 30% of the world's population. Its causative agent is Toxoplasma. The primary host of this microorganism, in whose body it lives and reproduces, is domestic cats, which, as a rule, are the cause of infection. In addition, infection with toxoplasmosis can occur through unwashed hands (this is how children usually become infected in kindergartens), as well as a carnivorous raw food diet (raw meat diet).

Other infections (O)

This group assumes such infections that can affect the fetus: and C, syphilis, gonococci, listeriosis. Recently, HIV, chickenpox, and enterovirus infection were included in this list.

Rubella (R)

Rubella can be transmitted to a healthy person from an infected person, often through airborne droplets. Rubella is considered to be a completely harmless “childhood” disease. There are no serious consequences to infection with it in childhood does not lead. The disease manifests itself as small rashes all over the body and an increase in temperature from 38 to 40°. The insidiousness of rubella lies in the fact that the infection goes through a long incubation period during which there are no symptoms.

Cytomegalovirus (C)

Cytomegalovirus became known only in the 20th century. It can be transmitted to an adult woman through sexual intercourse, blood, or breastfeeding.

Herpes (N)

Herpes simplex is a viral disease. Medicine knows two types of herpes - herpes type I and herpes type II.

Type I herpes most often manifests itself as the well-known “cold on the lips.” Type II manifests itself in the genital area. It is transmitted sexually, by airborne droplets and in utero. In the case of an advanced chronic course, it affects not only the places where it manifests itself, but also the central nervous system, eyes and internal organs.

After the initial infection, antibodies are produced, which largely make it possible to prevent the progression of the disease.

Why are TORCH infections so dangerous?

Diseases from the TORCH group do not pose a threat to human life. They are very common and after the initial infection they pass into a chronic, latent stage. However, during primary infection they can have acute manifestations. And their penetration into the body of a pregnant woman without the presence of antibodies in it can lead to serious malformations of the fetus.

The danger of toxoplasmosis for the fetus

For people with good immunity, toxoplasmosis is not dangerous; you can get it without any symptoms. Human immunity produces persistent antibodies to it, so this disease occurs only once. Toxoplasma is dangerous if the primary infection occurs during pregnancy. In fact, the possibility of infection is not great - according to statistics, no more than 1% of women become infected with toxoplasma, and only 20% of them can transmit the infection to their baby.

But 1% is one pregnant woman out of 100, which is not so small. But, if a woman was infected at least six months before pregnancy, then there is no risk to the fetus. When infected during gestation, the exact period at which it occurred is of great importance.

For periods up to 12 weeks, penetration of toxoplasma into the body can lead to serious pathologies and miscarriages. Congenital toxoplasmosis leads to severe damage to the eyes, liver, spleen, central nervous system, and brain.

The danger of rubella

After an illness, the body develops a strong immunity, after which re-infection is impossible. However, if infection occurs during pregnancy, rubella is extremely dangerous for the unborn baby. In its acute form, the virus affects the child’s nerve tissue, heart muscle and eyes.

In the 1st trimester, primary infection with rubella is an indication to terminate pregnancy. At a later date, this can cause retardation in growth and mental development. In this case, comprehensive restorative therapy and prevention of placental insufficiency are carried out.

If infected in the very late stages, the baby may be born with external manifestations of rubella, after which it proceeds in the same way as in all small children and, as a rule, does not have serious consequences.

The danger of cytomegalovirus (CMV)

The effect of CMV on humans most likely depends on general condition immune system. With good immunity, it poses virtually no danger. If the functions protective forces organism are reduced, the pathogen is activated and is able to affect almost all organs and systems. Most people who are infected with CMV don't even know it. Primary infection in pregnant women in the early stages is an indication for termination.

If a woman is infected beforehand, then no terrible pathologies arise in the fetus. During periods of exacerbation, the pregnant woman is prescribed a course of treatment using antiviral drugs and immunomodulators. Ideally, a test for antibodies to CMV is taken when planning pregnancy; if they are not detected, then expectant mother receives a number of recommendations aimed at preventing infection.

The danger of herpetic infections

If infected during pregnancy, especially before 12 weeks, it can be fatal to the embryo. In this case, it can cause the development of serious pathologies, often incompatible with life.

Infection in the later stages increases the occurrence of fetal pathologies, such as congenital viral, heart defects, microcephaly. It may cause premature birth, death of a child, cerebral palsy, blindness and deafness, congenital epilepsy.

Very often, a child becomes infected while passing through the mother's birth canal during childbirth. For this reason, if an exacerbation of type 2 herpes occurs during the period, a cesarean section is prescribed. This makes it possible to prevent infection of a baby whose body is not yet strong.

Why are tests for TORCH needed, how and when are they taken?

Laboratory testing for TORCH infections must be carried out 2-3 months before planning pregnancy or at the earliest stages. It is the primary infection that poses the greatest danger. The results of the study make it possible to determine the presence and prevent the negative impact of these infections on the fetus.

Tests are taken at the antenatal clinic, where the woman is registered, or in a special laboratory. There is no need to prepare for testing for infections from the TORCH group. The basic rule is that the material is collected on an empty stomach, in the morning, after waking up.

With its help, it is possible to identify 4 types of viral infections that can infect an unborn baby in utero. The danger lies in the fact that when the fetus is infected with any of four or more viruses, damage to organs and their systems occurs, significantly increasing the risk of stillbirth, miscarriage, and if the baby is born, congenital pathologies and deformities.

When planning a pregnancy, sampling can be done at any time. When passing antibacterial therapy The study should be abandoned until the end of the drug intake. Adequate results will be obtained no earlier than a month after their cancellation. There is also no need to carry out hygiene procedures in the genital area immediately before taking tests. Best time for such an examination - the first days after the end of menstruation.

Interpretation of analyzes on TORCH

The results of tests for TORCH infections are assessed individually for each patient in a specific case. A blood test can reveal classes of immunoglobulins G and M. If antibodies are identified that only belong to class G, this means that the infection occurred a long time ago and immunity to this pathogen has developed. Therefore, the disease is not dangerous.

The presence of M indicates that the disease is in the acute stage, despite the absence of symptoms.

If no antibodies are detected at all, this means that the patient did not have any contact with the infection. Therefore, pregnant women with such test results should protect themselves as much as possible by following all the doctor’s prescriptions and recommendations. Three months before the planned conception, it is required to get vaccinated against rubella if no antibodies to it are detected.

The causative agent of infection	lgG	lgM	Result
(TO) Toxoplasmosis	–	–	No antibodies to toxoplasmosis were detected in the studied material. There was no previous contact with this pathogen.
	+	–	The infection occurred less than 2 months ago.
	+	+	The presence of antibodies in the body to toxoplasmosis. The infection occurred more than 2 months ago. The result requires additional examination.
	–	+	As a result of laboratory testing, antibodies to toxoplasmosis were detected, which is chronic and does not pose a danger.
(R) Rubella	–	–	Antibodies to rubella were not detected. There had been no contact with the infectious agent up to this point.
	+	–	Most likely, the infection occurred no more than 2 months ago. The result requires additional research.
	+	+	The infection entered the body 2-6 months ago. The result requires further examination.
	–	+
			The body contains antibodies to the rubella virus. Repeated contact with the pathogen is not dangerous.
(C) Cytomegalovirus	–	–	Antibodies to cytomegalovirus were not detected. Until the sampling of the test material, this pathogen did not penetrate the body.
	+	–	The infection occurred no more than a month and a half ago. Additional examination is required.
	+	+	The infection entered the body less than 5 months ago. Additional tests are required.
	–	+	The virus is in the latent stage. It does not pose a danger if you come into contact with it.
(H) Herpes	–	–	There was no previous contact of the body with the herpes virus. In case of primary infection, it is very dangerous for a pregnant woman.
	+	–	The infection entered the body no more than a month and a half ago.
	+	+	The infection occurred no more than 4 and a half months ago. A number of additional examinations are required.
	–	+	The presence of protective antibodies to herpes is observed. Re-infection cannot occur.

TORCH is a group of infections that includes diseases caused by specific types of pathogens. Once they enter the body, they remain there forever. They are quite difficult to prevent and impossible to completely cure. You can live peacefully with them, but during pregnancy they can pose a danger to his health and even life. Taking tests for the presence of TORCH in the body of the expectant mother makes it possible to minimize the risks of their negative impact on the fetus.

Preventive measures

All diseases in this group are very common. You can encounter them not only on the street, but also at home, in your own kitchen or when caring for your pets. Therefore, preventing infection during pregnancy is very important important. For this reason, it is important to plan for pregnancy before it occurs. In the absence of positive results for the presence of antibodies in the body of the expectant mother, it is necessary to protect yourself as much as possible from the penetration of pathogens.

Only against rubella there is the most reliable method of prevention - vaccination. In the countries of the post-Soviet space it is mandatory.

If the pregnancy is planned, then it is best to get vaccinated against the rubella virus prematurely. However, surveys show that antibodies are present in 86% of women who once had this disease and are not at risk of re-infection.

The differences between rubella and toxoplasmosis are that persistent antibodies are produced to the first virus, while antibodies to the second are produced in only 40% of patients. Toxoplasma infection most often occurs due to poor heat treatment of meat.

For reference! Very often, furry pets - dogs and cats - become the source of infection. For this reason, many give their pets to other owners while they are pregnant, believing that they pose a danger. But this is not always the case. Most often, owners of felines have long had antibodies to toxoplasmosis. But having a tailed friend is not advisable for those who have not had one before during pregnancy. However, if tests for the presence of antibodies are positive, there is no need to worry.

The situation is completely different with regard to herpes and cytomegalovirus. Herpetic infections, as a rule, affect the body even in early age. These pathogens are transmitted primarily by airborne droplets. Almost everyone (about 98% of the world's population) is carriers of these pathogens. With good immune defense of the body, they are suppressed and do not pose a threat. But when the body’s defenses are suppressed, these infections can manifest themselves. Therefore, the only way to prevent these diseases is to strengthen the body’s defenses using well-known methods, namely:

• healthy lifestyle;
• getting enough sleep;
• compliance with the regime;
• proper and balanced nutrition;
• avoiding stressful situations.

Important! During pregnancy it is necessary to avoid colds and limit yourself to being in places where there are a large number of people.

Strengthening the immune system while carrying a baby will help avoid periods of exacerbation of herpetic infections and protect against negative consequences.

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Interesting

TORCH (TORCH) are pathogenic invasions that the World Health Organization (WHO) considers the most dangerous for a woman during gestation (pregnancy) and the fetus she is carrying. The peculiarity of these invasions is their relative harmlessness for a person in a normal state and a significant danger for pregnant women, which makes analysis for TORCH infections during pregnancy an extremely important way of diagnosing, preventing and deciphering possible threats to the health of pregnant women.

The word “TORCH” is not an abbreviation, but just a Russian reading of it in English. In domestic medical practice, the term equivalent to the abbreviation “TORCH” is the abbreviation “IUI” (intrauterine infection). TORCH infections include a complex of viral and bacterial pathogens that can adversely affect the development of gestation, the health of the fetus (primarily its nervous system), the likelihood of spontaneous abortion of the pregnant woman and fetal malformations.

Explanation of the abbreviation:

From the figure, the meaning of all the letters of the abbreviation becomes clear, except for “other”. This category includes proven (syphilis, chlamydia, hepatitis A and B, gonococcal infection, listeriosis) and probable (parvovirus B19, chickenpox virus, enteroviruses) infections, similar in clinical manifestations of intrauterine infection of newborns to toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus and herpes.

Special terms of immunology, knowledge of which is necessary in deciphering the results of tests for TORCH infection

Incomprehensible words, icons and symbols on test forms have always been an obstacle for inquisitive expectant mothers who are vitally interested in the successful course and resolution of pregnancy. Unfortunately, some specialists in the medical field, being good practitioners, turn out to be difficult interlocutors who are unable to clearly explain complex medical terms and phenomena to women. But doctors need to be understood and forgiven - first of all, they are concerned about the health of the patient and the life of her unborn child, however, the explanatory mission of the doctor is also very important.

Below, in a simple and accessible form, are presented the concepts that are important for deciphering the results of tests for TORCH infection.

Immunology

Immunology is a science that studies immunity, the immune system and the characteristics of the immune reactions of the human body. The definition of TORCH infections is closely related to this science, since the immune system, when faced with an infection, leaves a trace in the form of a specific formation, the substance “immunoglobulin”, from which you can obtain all the information the doctor needs about the nature of the infection, its type and the period of penetration of the infection into the body.

Immunity

The special ability of the human body to resist hostile agents (antigens) is called immunity in medicine.

An antigen is any material element whose nature is incompatible with human nature. The antigen can be a living creature - an insect, a helminth, a protozoan, a bacterium; conditionally living - spores, seeds, pollen and viruses; non-living - various organic and inorganic formations (animal hair, dust of various etiologies, splinters from different materials, medicines, food).

Human immunity consists of many components, parts, features and phenomena, which allows us to talk about it as a system. The immune system includes the following organs: red blood marrow, spleen, thymus, Peyer's patches, tonsils, lymph nodes.

The immune system's response to an antigen is called medical science"immune response". The immune response can be either normal or abnormal. In the first case, they mean the detection, management and elimination of an antigen that poses a threat to the body; in the second, an attack by the immune system on one’s own body. The abnormal functioning of the immune system is called an “autoimmune reaction” (autoimmune disease, allergy, allergic reaction).

Types of immunity

The classification of immunity has long been a problem in medicine until a unified approach to this issue was developed. In its most simplified form, immunity is divided into two types: a) nonspecific (innate) and b) specific (acquired). More details on the diagram:

The production of antibodies is associated with the development of a humoral type of immune response.

Antibodies

Antibodies (immunoglobulins, lg) are specific proteins produced by β-lymphocytes (plasmocytes), the main task of which is to human body– immune regulation, participation in the immune response as a kind of weapon against antigens. In mammals, there are five specific classes of immunoglobulins - IgG, IgA, IgM, IgD, IgE, they differ from each other in functional features, chemical composition, physical structure:

The importance of IgG and IgG antibodies in the diagnosis of infections of the TORCH group

Immunoglobulins of class M and G manifest themselves at different stages of infection growth and disintegrate in the blood each at its own time, which allows specialists to determine the moment of infection penetration and make fairly accurate predictions regarding the further course of the disease and treatment.

Antibodies M appear at the earliest stages of the development of the infectious process, remain in the blood for a long time (from 6 weeks to 2 years), and perform a receptor function (responsible for determining the vulnerability of the antigen). They are the first of all immunoglobulins to react to the antigen, then they are replaced by G antibodies. M antibodies are not able to penetrate the placenta to the fetus, but this is not necessary, since they are produced in his blood (for this feature they are called antibodies of newborns). The presence of this type of immunoglobulin is a sure sign of the presence of infection, including IUI.

Antibodies G (have 4 subclasses) are the most “important” antibodies in the human body and play a fundamental role in the humoral immune response. The synthesis of this type of antibody depends on the primary reaction of the antigen with type M antibodies - the information obtained about the vulnerability of the antigen forms the “killer” potential of IgG. With repeated invasion of an already “familiar” pathogen, IgG will begin to be produced immediately, bypassing the receptor reaction of immunoglobulins M (in the laboratory it will look like a lot of IgG and little IgG, that is, the subject has a strong immunity to infection). Antibodies G are able to penetrate through the placenta to the fetus, creating the basis of the anti-infective immunity of newborns. The detection of a large amount of IgG in a pregnant woman for one of the TORCH infections is not considered an indication for its treatment.

Avidity

In immunology, this concept characterizes the strength of acquired immunity, its durability and stability. If a primary infection has occurred, then IgG will not be produced immediately, but after some time - this is low or minimal avidity, indicating that the person being examined does not have immunity to infection; if IgG began to be produced more quickly than usual, but still not quickly enough, this is an average or normal avidity, indicating that the patient has developed immunity to the pathogen relatively recently; if IgG appears immediately and in large quantities, then this is high, maximum avidity - evidence of long-standing, stable immunity to infection.

Clinical features of the test procedure for TORCH infection

In accordance with the schedule for testing by a woman during gestation, testing for TORCH infections is carried out once, when the pregnant woman is registered. But, if you approach the issue more responsibly, then the diagnosis of intrauterine infections should be carried out 2-3 months before gestation. Of course, calculating everything is not so simple, but planning a pregnancy will allow a woman to insure herself against unpleasant accidents.

Preparing for tests

The material for analysis is blood taken from a vein. The collection is carried out in the morning on an empty stomach - the woman should not eat anything 7-8 hours before the start of the procedure. You can drink water and sweetened tea (1-1.5 hours before the procedure). There are some products that can change the test results, even in cases where their consumption occurred the day before the procedure, for example, alcohol. Naturally, it is better to refrain from consuming these products long before the diagnosis begins. It is also a good idea to abstain from taking vitamins and nutritional supplements, medications and smoking.

Labeling results

Speaking about the labeling of analysis results, let us pay attention to two unrelated types of test designation - general and specific. The general thing is the interpretation of the test itself, it can be negative, positive and false positive. The quotient is the designation of immunoglobulins with the symbols minus “-”, plus “+” and plus or minus “+”, for example, -lgG, +lgG and +lgG.

General interpretation:

• negative – no infection;
• positive – infection detected;
• false positive - the analysis showed the presence of infection in its absence. This result is most often associated with an autoimmune factor, an attack of the immune system on one’s own body. In rare exceptions - with a laboratory testing error, the metabolic reaction of a pregnant woman’s body to the use of certain foods and medications. In the event of a false positive result, repeat testing is usually prescribed.

Antibody markers are indicators of avidity:

• minus – low avidity;
• plus/minus – average avidity;
• plus – high avidity.

Types of tests used to determine TORCH infections

Modern clinical medicine knows many ways to detect pathogenic invasions, each of which has its own specification and degree of effectiveness. The choice of diagnostic type depends on the specific conditions and purposes of the study. To determine TORCH infections, serological methods of analysis are used (methods of obtaining data about antibodies and antigens using antigen-antibody reactions, carried out by observing reactions in blood serum, other fluids, as well as body tissues), which may include: agglutination reaction (RA) ), precipitation reaction (RP), complement fixation reaction (RFR), immune adhesion reaction (RIR), radial hemolysis reaction (RRH), neutralization reaction (RN), immunofluorescence reaction (RIF, Koons method), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), immunoblot, radioimmunoassay (RIA), polymerase chain reaction (PCR), multiplex analysis (MA, biochip analysis).

The overwhelming majority of the types of laboratory diagnostics indicated above work with conventional immunological values, but not all - for example, in the quantitative PCR analysis method, the unit of measurement “copy of DNA to the 10th power n” is used (an example of a form with test results, analysis by quantitative PCR method - below the paragraph).

Examples of decoding analysis for TORCH infection

When reading the form with the results of an antibody test, an interested person can see certain numerical values ​​- how can one understand where –lgG/lgM, +lgG/lgM and +lgG/lgM are?

Let's pay attention to the analysis form - we see the column “reference values”. This column is divided into three parts - “negative”, “weak positive” and “positive”. The result of the detected antibody is displayed in some numerical values, units IU/ml (international unit per milliliter).

The amount of antibody detected is correlated with the reference limits indicated on the form numerical values, falling into one or another part of the graph. Below, in the example, we have indicated with red arrows all +lgG for clarity.

We similarly arrange the values ​​for each antibody to each of the TORCH infections. We add the resulting lgG and lgM together and read the result in accordance with the decoding:

A) Cytomegalovirus

B) Herpes

B) Rubella

Important! All this information is provided for your reference. general principles generating test results for TORCH infections. In no way can the information presented here replace consultation with a doctor! Only a specialist can correctly decipher the results of such testing, take into account all the nuances and make the correct diagnosis.

The danger of SARS infections for the expectant mother and fetus

The last thing I would like to draw attention to in this publication is the danger associated with TORCH infections. We recommend watching this video: