Viral Infections of the Fetus and Newborn

Viral infections of the fetus and newborn are common problems in neonatology practice and must be considered in the differential diagnosis of newborns with intrauterine growth retardation, physical examination and laboratory abnormalities, and illness in the newborn period. The diversity of fetal and neonatal viral infections is vast. The depth and breadth of viral disease are extensive and the differential diagnosis broad. Clinicians should consider specific causes and not rely on broad-based categorical consideration of Toxoplasmosis, Other, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, Herpes Simplex Virus (TORCH) syndromes, since specific signs, symptoms, and findings are quite diverse, depending on the pathogen being considered. Antiviral therapies are now available for many of these pathogens, underscoring the importance of making a specific diagnosis. Laboratory studies focused on virologic detection, driven in most cases by molecular assays, are much more precise and reliable than serologic diagnosis.