Which condition is NOT part of the TORCH acronym for severe intellectual disability differentials?

Which condition is NOT part of the TORCH acronym for severe intellectual disability differentials?

• A. Toxoplasmosis
• B. Rubella
• C. Chlamydia
• D. CMV

Answer: (C)

The correct answer is Chlamydia, as it is not included in the TORCH acronym, which stands for a set of infections known to potentially cause severe intellectual disabilities and other complications in newborns. The TORCH infections are Toxoplasmosis, Other (often including syphilis, varicella, and others), Rubella, Cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV). Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection that can have various effects on reproductive health but is not recognized within the TORCH group as directly causing severe intellectual disabilities or associated congenital conditions. In contrast, the other three conditions—Toxoplasmosis, Rubella, and CMV—are well-established as teratogenic infections that can lead to significant neurological outcomes, including intellectual disabilities, when contracted during pregnancy. This is why Chlamydia does not belong in the TORCH category, emphasizing the specific focus of the acronym on certain critical infectious agents that have known impacts on fetal development.

The correct answer is Chlamydia, as it is not included in the TORCH acronym, which stands for a set of infections known to potentially cause severe intellectual disabilities and other complications in newborns. The TORCH infections are Toxoplasmosis, Other (often including syphilis, varicella, and others), Rubella, Cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV).

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection that can have various effects on reproductive health but is not recognized within the TORCH group as directly causing severe intellectual disabilities or associated congenital conditions. In contrast, the other three conditions—Toxoplasmosis, Rubella, and CMV—are well-established as teratogenic infections that can lead to significant neurological outcomes, including intellectual disabilities, when contracted during pregnancy. This is why Chlamydia does not belong in the TORCH category, emphasizing the specific focus of the acronym on certain critical infectious agents that have known impacts on fetal development.