TORCH examination is an examination carried out to detect the presence of infection in pregnant women.With this examination, infection can be detected early, so the risk of transmission and complications of infection to the fetus can be prevented.
TORCH, sometimes also called TORCHS, is an abbreviation of several names for infectious diseases, namely Toxoplasmosis, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, Herpes simplex virus, and Syphilis.
Basically, when the body is attacked by foreign microorganisms, such as viruses or bacteria, the immune system will produce compounds called antibodies. The role of these compounds is to fight and prevent these microorganisms from causing disease.
In this case, the TORCH examination is carried out to detect antibodies produced by the body when attacked by microorganisms that cause the above infectious diseases.
The following is an explanation of the diseases belonging to the TORCH:
- ToxoplasmosisToxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a parasite Toxoplasma gondii. This parasite can be found in the feces of infected cats and undercooked food. If a pregnant woman has toxoplasmosis, the parasite can be transmitted to the fetus and cause the fetus to be born with health problems, such as serious eye infections, hearing loss, or mental disorders.
- RubellaRubella is also known as German measles. If it occurs in pregnant women, this infection can transmit to the fetus and cause the fetus to be born with heart defects, deafness, visual impairment, lung infections, blood disorders, or growth delays. In addition, as the baby grows, rubella infection can also cause central nervous system disorders, immune system disorders, or thyroid disorders.
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV)Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a type of virus that generally affects adults and rarely causes serious health problems. However, in fetuses and newborns, the virus can cause deafness, visual impairment, pneumonia, seizures, and growth retardation.
- Herpes simplex virus (HSV)HSV is a virus that can cause herpes, both oral and genital, in adults. Babies can catch the herpes virus from their mother during childbirth, especially if the mother has genital herpes. In infants, herpes virus infection can cause symptoms, such as rashes filled with fluid in the mouth, eyes, and skin, the baby looks lazy, breathing problems, and seizures.
- SyphilisPregnant women can get syphilis through sexual intercourse, which can then be transmitted to the fetus they are carrying. The infection, which is often called “lion king disease”, can cause miscarriage, premature birth, and deafness.
TORCH Check Indications
TORCH examination can be performed on pregnant women in the first trimester and newborns who show symptoms of infectious diseases classified as TORCH, such as:
- Smaller body weight and length than babies his age
- Cataract
- Thrombocytopenia
- Seizures
- Heart defects
- Deaf
- Enlargement of the liver and spleen
- Jaundice (jaundice)
- Growth delay
TORCH Check Alert
The TORCH test is performed to detect antibodies that are new or have been produced by the body. The antibodies are IgM and IgG for TORCH. A positive result for the TORCH test does not necessarily mean you are experiencing an infection from a disease that belongs to the TORCH category.
If the IgM result is positive, it means that there is currently an infection. If the IgG result is positive, then there can be two possibilities, namely having been infected with or having been vaccinated for TORCH. Meanwhile, if both antibodies are positive, the doctor will perform other tests to confirm whether there is an infection.
It's a good idea to consult a doctor for the results of the TORCH examination, so that early treatment to prevent complications can be carried out.
Before TORCH Check
The TORCH examination is a simple examination, so it generally does not require special preparation. However, the patient needs to tell the doctor if he is suffering from a disease, even if it is not a disease that belongs to the TORCH category.
Patients should also tell their doctor if they are taking certain medications. If needed, the doctor will ask the patient to fast and stop taking medicines for a while.
TORCH Check Procedure
The TORCH examination procedure is quite simple, which focuses on blood sampling and antibody detection. This examination can be done at the nearest clinic or hospital. The stages take place as follows:
- The doctor will sterilize the body part where the blood sample will be taken. Usually, a blood sample will be taken from a vein in the arm.
- The doctor will tie the upper arm using a special tool so that the veins in the arm bulge and are clearly visible.
- The doctor will then insert a needle into the vein and insert a sterile tube to collect the blood sample.
- The band on the arm will be released so that the blood can flow by itself into the sample tube.
- Once enough, the doctor will remove the needle and put a bandage on the needle puncture point.
The blood samples that have been taken will be taken to the laboratory for examination of IgM and IgG TORCH. Through the results of the examination, the doctor will assess whether the patient is currently, has, or does not have an infection.
After TORCH Check
If the patient is suspected of having a disease that is classified as TORCH, the doctor will recommend the patient to undergo other tests to confirm the diagnosis. Some follow-up examinations that can be carried out after the TORCH examination are:
- Lumbar puncture test, to detect the presence of toxoplasmosis, rubella, and infection herpes simplex virus in the central nervous system
- Skin lesion culture test, to detect infection herpes simplex virus
- Urine culture test, to detect infection cytomegalovirus
If the diagnosis is confirmed, the doctor will determine the appropriate treatment according to the patient's condition.
Complications TORCH Check
The TORCH check is a simple and generally safe check. However, taking a blood sample in the TORCH examination can still cause a number of complications, such as redness at the blood sampling site, pain, or bruising.