Infectious Diseases

An expecting mother can encounter a wide variety of infections during pregnancy. They can range from the common cold to HIV. The different types of infections can be grouped as:

1. Congenital infections (passed to the fetus in utero)
   Examples include a group of infections known by the acronym TORCH:
   • Toxoplasmosis
   • Others (syphilis, Ebstein-Barr virus, varicella, parvovirus B19) 
   • Rubella 
   • Cytomegalovirus (CMV) 
   • Herpes simplex virus 
2. Perinatal infections (during labor and delivery)
   Examples include Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, Herpes simplex virus, and Group B streptococci (GBS)
3. Postnatal infections (after delivery)
   These include HIV, CMV, and Group B streptococci (GBS)

The doctors at RPG have special expertise in the diagnosis of congenital infections in utero. Combining ultrasound with tests of maternal blood and sometime amniotic fluid via amniocentesis, they can often identify whether your baby may be at risk for complications of these infections.