Tammi Reynolds, BA & Mark Dombeck, Ph.D.Infections play a significant role in a baby's mental development. Common infections that may cause mental retardation in infants are represented by the acronym TORCH, with each letter of TORCH representing a different infection described below: - Toxoplasma infection (toxoplasmosis) is caused by a parasite, Toxoplasma gondii. This parasite can be found around the world in warm-blooded animals; however, the parasite is mostly associated with cats in the United States and Canada. It can also be introduced through undercooked meats that are infected with the parasite. The parasite can live in the ground, so it can also be spread if an individual swallows the parasite by accidentally ingesting dirt while engaged in activities like gardening.
Toxoplasmosis is insidious in that the fetus does not display any symptoms during the pregnancy. Once the child is born, the symptoms emerge as the baby shows signs of jaundice, rashes, and an enlarged liver and spleen. Unfortunately, toxoplasmosis has a profound effect on the baby's central nervous system that may not be recognized for months or even years, until signs of learning disabilities or mental retardation surface. - The O in TORCH represents other infections, including Hepatitis B, syphilis, and the virus that causes chicken pox, herpes zoster.
- Rubella, the contagion that causes German measles, is commonly associated with mental retardation in infants. In addition, this insidious condition is passed from mother to baby during pregnancy. The mother's symptoms are mild, including rash and a low-grade fever. The symptoms present after birth and include mental retardation, and even death in rare cases.
- Another virus, cytomegalovirus is so common that nearly everyone has contracted it by the time he or she reaches adulthood. If the virus is contracted during teenage and young adult years, it is commonly known as mononucleosis. Cytomegalovirus may be passed from mother to fetus if she has contracted the condition for the very first time while pregnant. Five percent of babies who contract the virus have significant developmental problems including blindness and brain damage.
- Herpes simplex is a sexually transmitted disease that an infant can contract from the mother during pregnancy or childbirth if the mother has the herpes simplex virus for the first time during pregnancy. The condition can be detrimental to a newborn, resulting in significant brain damage and possibly death.
|
