ToRCHHeS

Question 1

Toxoplasma gondii

Answer 1

• cat feces or ingestion of undercooked meat
• mom: usually asymtomatic, rarely lymphadenopathy
• baby: chorioretinitis, hydrocephalus, intracranial calcifications
• +/- blueberry muffin rash

Question 2

Rubella

Answer 2

• mom: rash, lymphadenopathy, arthritis
• baby: PDA (pulmonary artery hypoplasia), cataracts, deafness
• =/- blueberry muffin rash

Question 3

CMV

Answer 3

• sexual contact, organ transplants
• mom: usually asymptomatic, mono-like illness
• baby: seizures, periventricular calcifications, hearing loss
• blueberry muffin rash - petechial rash

Question 4

HIV

Answer 4

• sexual contact, needlestick
• mom: varaiable presentation, depending on CD4+ count
• baby: recurrent infections, chronic diarrhea

Question 5

Herpes simplex virus 2

Answer 5

• skin or mucous membrane contact
• mom: usually asymptomatic, herpetic (vesicular) lesions
• baby: encephalitis, herpetic (vesicular) lesions

Question 6

Syphilis

Answer 6

• sexual contact
• mom: chancre (primary), disseminated rash (secondary)
• baby: stillbirth, hydrops fetalis
• baby, if it survives: cutaneous lesions on hands/foot, hepatosplenomegaly, jaundice, anemia, rhinorrhea (snuffles)

Question 7

Difference between hyrocephalus in Toxoplasmosis and CMV.

Answer 7

In Toxoplasmosis - obstructive hydrocephalus

In CMV - hydrocephalus ex vacuo

Hydrocephalus ex vacuo is often classified as a form of hydrocephalus, however, this is a misnomer as it is not a true hydrocephalus. The ventricles and subarachnoid space appear enlarged secondary to loss of brain tissue; however, intracranial pressure and flow of cerebrospinal fluid are normal.