Pathogen and Pathophysiology Polioviruses are positive-stranded RNA viruses belonging to the Enterovirus genus of the Picornaviridae family. They have a naked protein capsid consisting of 4 structural proteins, VP1 to VP4. The RNA-dependent RNA polymerase encoded for genome replication lacks…
Rubeola (i.e., measles) is an acute, highly contagious, vaccine-preventable viral infection. , In the prevaccination era, measles was an almost universal experience during childhood. The incidence of measles declined markedly in the US after the licensure of a live measles…
Mumps (i.e., epidemic parotitis) is an acute, vaccine-preventable disease of childhood that typically involves swelling of one or both parotid glands, although many different organs can be infected. Childhood mumps has become uncommon in the US since the widespread implementation…
Rubella (i.e., German measles) is a benign, self-limited, vaccine-preventable viral illness. Acquired rubella is characterized by an exanthem and lymphadenopathy, although infants and children with rubella frequently are asymptomatic. Much of the morbidity attributed to rubella virus (RuV) occurs from…
Parasitic infections are highly prevalent in many developing areas of the world and are common among pregnant women in developed countries. They may exacerbate maternal and fetal anemia, and contribute to low birth weight and poor infant survival. The placenta…
Human Papillomavirus Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are the most common cause of sexually transmitted infection in the United States, with approximately 14 million new infections annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These DNA viruses are the…
The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) pandemic remains one of the greatest public health challenges in the 21st century. More than 3 decades after the initial descriptions of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in adults and children, the epidemiology of…
Overview Current concepts of pathogenesis, microbiology, diagnosis, and management of infections of the fetus and newborn are reviewed in this chapter with the goal of providing a brief synthesis and overview. Information within this chapter regarding specific infections or syndromes…