CHEAP TORCHES
From IDWiki
- 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
