A new analysis of 19 studies from Malaysia suggests that many pregnant women and infants there have been exposed to a group of infections known as TORCH. These include toxoplasmosis, rubella, cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex, and syphilis. The overall rate of exposure, called seroprevalence, was 32.5% across both groups. That means about one in three had antibodies, showing past or current infection.
When the researchers looked at pregnant women and infants separately, they found slightly different rates. Among pregnant women, the seroprevalence was 27.7%. Among infants, it was 35.1%. The most common infection was CMV, with rates of 93.2% in pregnant women and 95.9% in infants. The lowest rates were much smaller, at 1.1% in pregnant women and 4% in infants, though the specific infection was not named in the summary.
This is a meta-analysis, which combines results from multiple studies. That makes the findings more reliable than any single study, but it still has limits. The analysis did not report on safety concerns or side effects, and it did not specify which infection had the lowest rates. Also, the studies were all from Malaysia, so the results may not apply to other countries.
The main takeaway is that TORCH infections are common in this population, especially CMV. This highlights the importance of screening pregnant women to prevent passing these infections to their babies. However, this does not mean that every exposure leads to harm. If you are pregnant or planning to be, talk to your doctor about whether screening is right for you.
