Which TORCH infection is contraindicated in normal vaginal delivery?

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) is contraindicated in normal vaginal delivery primarily due to the significant risk of transmission to the newborn during the delivery process. If a pregnant individual has an active genital herpes outbreak, the virus can be passed to the baby as it passes through the birth canal, leading to neonatal herpes. This condition can be severe and even life-threatening for the newborn, so to mitigate the risk of infection, a cesarean delivery is often recommended when active lesions are present at the time of labor.

Other infections in the TORCH group, such as rubella, cytomegalovirus, and toxoplasmosis, do not have the same immediate risks associated with passage through the birth canal during delivery. Although these infections can potentially lead to complications for the fetus, they do not necessitate a change in the mode of delivery in the same urgent manner that active herpes simplex virus does.