TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF STRUCTURED TEACHING PROGRAMME ON KNOWLEDGE REGARDING PREVENTION OF TORCH INFECTIONS DURING PREGNANCY AMONG ANTENATAL MOTHERS ATTENDING ANTENATAL OPDS OF SELECTED HOSPITALS

Aim:To assess the effectiveness of structured teaching programme on knowledge regarding prevention of TORCH infections during pregnancy among antenatal mothers attending antenatal OPDS of selected hospitals. Participants and setting: The research design used in this study was one group pre test and post test, no control group. The study was conducted in Miraj city, India.The investigator selected 100antenatal mothers who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were selected by using non probability convenience sampling technique. Intervention: The investigator assessed the knowledge on TORCH infection using the structured interview schedule. It took about 10 – 15 minutes for each individual. Soon after the pretest educational package was given through health talk, A.V. aids . The post test was conducted after 7 days and scoring was analyzed. Measurement and findings: To assess the effectiveness of education programme which was done by calculating the t value (0.527) which is confirmed that there was statistically significant difference between pre and post test knowledge at p<0.05 level. Conclusion:There was association between the pre-test knowledge scores with selected demographical variables. Thus the null hypothesis was rejected and H1 hypothesis and H2 hypothesis was accepted.

Torch-Infections As An Actual Problem In Obstetrics And Gynecology Practice

The article under discussion depicts TORCH infections as an actual problem in obstetrics and gynaecology practice. The author of the article considers that the course of the disease is often asymptomatic, and the pathological impact of the causative agents on the embryonic development of the fetus leads to the development of defects, which cause spontaneous abortions, perinatal and postnatal deaths, as well as a disability at a young age.

Seroprevalence of ToRCH Pathogens in Southeast Asia

ToRCH is the acronym for several pathogens associated with pregnancy complications and sequelae in the unborn or newborn child. Particularly primary infections during pregnancy are associated with increased risk. Seroprevalence data of ToRCH infections are important, especially in countries with weak disease surveillance systems, to estimate immunity and vaccination levels, as well as exposure rates and thus the risk of infection during pregnancy. A systematic literature search spanning a 30-year time period was conducted to identify serosurveys on ToRCH pathogens in Southeast Asia. The 96 identified studies showed that some pathogens were well studied, while only limited data were available for others. Studies from the better-developed countries of the region were more abundant. Moreover, seroprevalence data were often limited to a certain geographical region within the country or to certain cohorts, there was an evident lack of recent serosurveys, and the study quality was often not adequate. Well-designed and area-wide serosurveys of ToRCH pathogens are clearly warranted. If combined with risk factor analysis, these studies may guide the development and implementation of effective measures for infection prevention, especially during pregnancy. In addition, educational programs for health care workers and for pregnant women during antenatal care are urgently needed.

Rubella — what is the danger of this disease?

Rubella, along with toxoplasmosis, cytomegalovirus and herpes, belongs to TORCH infections, diseases that can have a detrimental effect on the fetus if infected during pregnancy. The disease is caused by a virus, the only known source and carrier of which is human. Mostly children and young people are susceptible to the disease; they tolerate the disease quite easily. Of the clinical symptoms, it should be noted the appearance of a rash, a slight increase in temperature, regional lymphadenitis, and sometimes conjunctivitis. In adults, joint inflammation can also occur, which usually lasts 3–7 days. The rubella virus is most dangerous when a woman first becomes infected during pregnancy, especially in the first trimester. The probability of intrauterine infection of the fetus in this situation is 90 %, as a result of which it may die or develop congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). As a result, children with congenital rubella syndrome can suffer from developmental defects, hearing and visual impairments, diabetes mellitus and thyroid disorders. To prevent intrauterine infection of the fetus, vaccination against rubella is carried out, which leads to the development of stable immunity. Today rubella vaccination is carried out in 168 countries of the world, which allows immunization coverage of about 70 % of women. The countries of the African continent and Southeast Asia are the least affected by rubella vaccination, as a result of which there are about 4 cases of births of children in utero infected with the virus per 1000 births.

Study of TORCH infections and its impact on newborn babies and infants: a retrospective study in a tertiary care hospital in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India

Background: TORCH is an acronym for Toxoplasma, others (syphilis), Rubella, Cytomegalovirus and Herpes simplex virus. These are important causes of morbidity and mortality in new-borns, infants and children. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential to reduce the morbidity and mortality.Methods: It was a cross sectional record based retrospective record-based study conducted in King George Hospital, Andhra Medical College, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Samples from clinically suspected cases (newborns and infants) for possible TORCH infections were tested in virology laboratory from January to November 2019 and the samples were collected and tested by EUROIMMUN kit for the respective IgM antibodies and analyzed. Clinical details of newborns and infants were gathered from the patients through telephonic communication.Results: Total number of patients tested were 104 in which 54 (52%) showed positivity in which 36 were positive for CMV, 25 for HSV2, 23 for Rubella, 12 for Toxoplasma and 11 for Varicella zoster infection. Out of 52 positive cases 20.4% were alive and normal, 20% were alive but severely affected, mortality was 16.7%. Out of 16.7% mortalities 22% of deaths were due to nephrotic syndrome. Clinical manifestations include hepato-splenomegaly in 33.3% cases, fever in 30%, low birth weight in 25%, heart disease in 13.7%, microcephaly in 13.7%.Conclusions: Our study showed hepatomegaly, fever and low birth weight as common clinical manifestations. Fever and nephrotic syndrome were typically associated with CMV positive cases. Out of 52 % positively tested cases CMV was very common infection followed by HSV2, Rubella and Toxoplasmosis.