What type of infection is caused by congenital factors?

Congenital infections are those that are present at birth and are transmitted from the mother to the fetus during pregnancy, at the time of delivery, or just after birth. The defining characteristic of a congenital infection is that it arises due to factors related to the mother, such as infections she has during pregnancy (like rubella or syphilis) that can cross the placental barrier and affect the developing baby.

This type of infection differs from chronic infections, which develop slowly and can last for a long period, mixed infections that involve multiple pathogens causing an infection simultaneously, and direct infections that refer to those caused by pathogens entering the body and causing disease without being congenital.

Understanding congenital infections is essential in the field of mortuary science, as they can lead to various complications in newborns and impact the family during the grieving process. Knowledge of such infections allows professionals to better understand the implications they may have on both the health and the psychological wellbeing of families coping with the loss of a child due to complications from congenital infections.