Pediatric Pearls. TORCH Infections: Cytomegalovirus

June 27, 2023

TORCH is an acronym for a group of infections that cause congenital issues if a fetus is exposed to them in utero. Here is what the letters stand for:

• Toxoplasmosis

• Other (syphilis, varicella-zoster virus or chickenpox, fifth disease or parvovirus, HIV)

• Rubella

• Cytomegalovirus

• Herpes simplex

This post will look at congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV). CMV is a member of the herpes virus family. This is a common virus found worldwide. In the United States, approximately 40,000 infants are born with congenital CMV each year. Manifestations of a CMV infection vary with age and the immunocompetence of the host.