Intrauterine infections have been grouped into the TORCH group, as recommended by WHO. The name of the group is derived from the initial letters of the infectious agents that most commonly cause fetal pathology:

«T» for Toxoplasma;

«R» for Rubella;

«C» for Cytomegalovirus;

and «H» for Herpes.

Toxoplasmosis is a very common disease, affecting nearly 30 % of the world's population. It is caused by a microorganism called toxoplasma. The primary host of toxoplasmosis, in whose body this parasite multiplies, is the domestic cat, which most often becomes the source of infection of humans.

Furthermore, infection with toxoplasma can occur through dirty hands (usually infected by children in kindergartens), through raw or undercooked meat. A person with a healthy immune system does not suffer from toxoplasmosis - you can catch it without even noticing it. In addition, the human body develops immunity to toxoplasmosis, so it is a "one-off" disease.

A situation in which toxoplasmosis poses a most serious threat is primary infection with toxoplasmosis during pregnancy. It is fair to say that the probability of such infection is not high - statistics show that not more than 1% of women get infected with toxoplasmosis during pregnancy, and 20% of them transmit it to the fetus. Still, one percent is one pregnant woman out of a hundred - not so little, by and large.

It is also important that only toxoplasmosis that a woman has contracted during her current pregnancy is at risk. This means that if the woman has already been infected with toxoplasmosis before pregnancy (at least six months before) her unborn child is not at risk. Moreover, in the tragic situation of losing a child to toxoplasmosis during pregnancy, the woman can become pregnant after six months without fear of toxoplasmosis.

If infection with toxoplasmosis still occurs during pregnancy, much depends on the stage of pregnancy at which the toxoplasmosis entered the body of the pregnant woman.

The earlier the gestational age - the greater the risk of severe consequences of infecting the fetus with toxoplasmosis, but, at the same time, the less likely it is that infection will occur.

Conversely, in later gestation the rate of transmission of toxoplasmosis to the foetus is very high (about 70%), but the risk of severe damage to the foetus decreases. 

Infection with toxoplasmosis during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy is considered the most dangerous. In these cases, congenital toxoplasmosis often leads to fetal death or to the development of severe damage to the eyes, liver, spleen, and nervous system (especially the brain) of the child.

Therefore, when infected with toxoplasmosis at the initial stage of pregnancy, a pregnant woman is often offered an artificial termination of pregnancy. 

Rubella is an infectious viral disease transmitted to a healthy person from a sick person, most often by airborne transmission. Rubella refers to quite harmless "childhood" infections, no severe consequences, it usually does not lead to. 
Rubella is manifested by a small pink rash all over the body, a rise in temperature to about 38 °C. The general condition of the patient is satisfactory.