Fetal Infections and Brain Development

Current microbial diagnostics enable rapid and specific identification of the agents causing intrauterine and perinatal infections, and CT and MRI allow precise characterization of the central nervous system effects of these pathogens. Although infections with Toxoplasma gondii, Toxoplasma pallidum, Toxoplasma cruzi, and cytomegalovirus cannot currently be prevented by immunization, postnatal therapy of infected neonates can substantially improve outcome. Therapy with acyclovir should be initiated whenever perinatal herpes simplex virus encephalitis is suspected. Despite these strategies, intrauterine and perinatal infections remain major causes of permanent deafness, vision loss, cerebral palsy, and epilepsy among children throughout the world.