CHEAP TORCHES

• Mnemonic for the list of congenital infections of concern

	Disease	Clinical Manifestations
C	chicken pox	cicatricial or vesicular skin lesions, microcephaly
H	hepatitis B	eventual chronic hepatitis B
	hepatitis C	eventual chronic hepatitis C
	hepatitis E	maternal death
E	enterovirus	aseptic meningitis, exanthems, myocarditis, fulminant hepatitis
A	AIDS (HIV)
P	parvovirus	fetal loss, fetal hydrops
T	toxoplasmosis	intraparenchymal brain calcifications, hydrocephalus, chorioretinitis, CSF abnormalities
O	other (Zika)	microcephaly, intracranial calcifications, arthrogryposis, hypertonia, ocular abnormalities, sensorineural hearing loss
	other (WNV)
R	rubella	caracts, glaucoma, pigmentary retinopathy, congenital heart disease (PDA or PPAS), radiolucent bone disease, sensorineural hearing loss
C	CMV	thrombocytopenia, periventrical brain calcifications, microcephaly, hepatosplenomegaly, sensorineural hearing loss
H	HSV	skin vesicles, ulcerations, scarring, microophthalmia, hydranencephaly, microcephaly
E	every other STI
S	syphilis	osteochondritis and periostitis, pseudoparalysis, rhinitis (snuffles), maculopapular rash including palms, soles, and diaper area

Further Reading

• "Cheap torches": an acronym for congenital and perinatal infections. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1995;14(7):638-640. PMID: 7567307