TORCH examination before pregnancy, this is what you need to pay attention to

"TORCH examination is important to do before pregnancy to detect a group of infections that can be dangerous to the fetus. However, there are a number of things that need attention, such as risks, procedures, and examination results."

For mothers who are planning to become pregnant, having a health check is very important so that the disease can be detected and received treatment as early as possible, so as not to harm the fetus in the future. Well, one of the checks that you need to do before getting pregnant is the TORCH examination.

This is a procedure to help diagnose some infections that can harm the baby during pregnancy. TORCH itself stands for five infections, namely Toxoplasmosis, Other (other infections including syphilis), Rubella, Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Herpes simplex virus (HSV). Come on, see what you need to pay attention to when doing the test through the following review!

Precautions for a Torch Examination

TORCH is a group of congenital infections that can be passed from mother to child during pregnancy, during childbirth, or after delivery. This infection can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or intrauterine growth restriction (a condition that causes fetal growth to be stunted). That is why it is important for mothers to undergo TORCH examinations to prepare for a healthy pregnancy.

Here's what you need to pay attention to about this examination before getting pregnant:

1. Diseases that can be detected

There are five types of infections that can be detected by the TORCH examination, namely:

Toxoplasmosis. This disease occurs when a parasite called T. gondii enters the body through the mouth. You can find this parasite in cat feces, as well as undercooked meat and raw eggs. An infected fetus usually doesn't show any symptoms either in the womb or during the first year after birth. Symptoms usually come later and can include seizures, deafness, loss of vision and mental retardation.

Other. This category includes several communicable diseases such as mumps, measles, HIV, Epstein-Barr, and chickenpox.

Rubella. Another name for this disease is German measles, which is a viral infection characterized by a rash and has mild side effects in children. However, infected fetuses are prone to serious birth defects such as developmental delays, heart defects, and vision problems.

Cytomegalovirus. This is a virus that is still in the same family as herpes. This infection does not cause significant symptoms in adults. However, in the developing fetus, CMV can cause intellectual disabilities, hearing loss, and epilepsy if infected.

Herpes simplex. This virus can attack the baby while in the womb or during childbirth. Affected infants show serious disorders such as seizures, breathing problems, and brain damage with prominent symptoms during the second week of the baby's life.2. TORCH examination risks

The TORCH examination is a simple, low-risk blood test. This may cause mild discomfort, such as redness, bruising, or pain around the injected area. In rare cases, the injection wound can become infected.

3. Preparation and procedure

There is no special preparation that you need to do to undergo this examination. However, tell your doctor if you believe you have been infected with one of the viruses covered in the TORCH examination.

You also need to mention the prescription or over-the-counter drugs that you are currently taking. The doctor may tell the mother to stop taking certain medications or avoid eating and drinking before the examination.

The examination itself involves taking a small blood sample. Blood is usually taken from a vein in the arm. The health worker will clean the area and insert a needle to draw blood.

You may feel a stinging sensation. The officer will then collect blood in a tube to then undergo an examination. The healthcare worker will place a small cotton swab over the injection area when finished.

4. The meaning of the results of the TORCH examination

The results of the TORCH examination show whether the mother is currently infected or has been infected by one of the viruses in the past. A positive result for IgG or IgM antibodies means the mother has the infection, was recently infected, or has had previous vaccinations.

In order to understand the results more clearly, talk to your doctor. If the mother is infected, the obstetrician can make a more comprehensive treatment plan so that the pregnancy is not affected. Meanwhile, a negative result indicates that there are no antibodies and no infection.