title: Fetal infections and brain development.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Neurology, Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, The University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84158, USA. james.bale@hsc.utah.edu
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Bale
mesh_terms: D000212:Acyclovir / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001921:Brain / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D003586:Cytomegalovirus Infections / Q000151:congenital* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D020803:Encephalitis, Herpes Simplex / Q000151:congenital* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D012409:Rubella / Q000151:congenital* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D014125:Toxoplasmosis, Congenital / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000998:Antiviral Agents; D000212:Acyclovir