PEDIATRICS Vol. 56 No. 1 July 1975, pp. 107
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FLAME OR BIRD?

Harold T. Fuerst M.D.1

1 Departments of Community and Preventive Medicine, and Pediatrics, New York Medical College

The acronym Torch has become common currency for a group of infections which, though heterogeneous in some attributes, share the characteristic of producing disseminated disease in the fetus and newborn. Several other infections have the same tendency but one omission from the schema is particularly disturbing, namely syphilis. I therefore propose that the letter "S" be prefixed to the acronym, giving STORCH. As the German for "stork," the connotation with the perinatal period seems highly suitable.

I have discussed the proposal with two flawed authorities (a couple of microbiologists) and their enthusiasm for change is surpassed only by my own.