USG role in perinatal infection

Abstract

Prenatal diagnosis can aid the obstetrician in evaluating a mother with suspected infection that can be transmitted to the fetus. The ultrasound (US) can exclude or identify anatomical defects of fetal heart, brain, detect thoracic or abdominal lesions, evaluate the liver and spleen volume, determine the degree of hemodynamic disturbance and suggest anemia. Congenital infections present with a wide spectrum of US markers and lesions, it may present as early pregnancy loss, nonimmune hydrops fetalis (NIHF), fetal growth restriction, CNS lesions, cardiothoracic lesions and lesions of the GIT. Role of US-guided invasive procedures in fetal infections includes amniocentesis-chorionic villus sampling, percutaneous umbilical blood sampling.