What is Vertical transmission?
'''Vertical transmission''' (also called '''mother-to-child transmission''', or '''MTCT''') means that an [[infectious disease|infection]] is spread from a mother to her [[fetus]] during [[pregnancy]] or [[childbirth]]. '''Vertically transmitted infections''' are usually caused by [[bacteria]] or [[virus]]es. If the baby still has the infection after he or she is born, the infection may be called a '''congenital infection'''. ==Examples== Here are some examples of infections that can be ''vertically transmitted.'' ===Sexually transmitted infections=== Many (but not all) [[sexually transmitted disease|sexually transmitted infections]] (STIs) can be vertically transmitted. STIs that can be spread from mother to fetus include: * [[HIV]] (the virus that causes [[AIDS]])<ref name=HIV>{{Cite report |author=Shaffer, Nathan |date=2010 |title=WHO 2010 Revised Recommendations: Use of Antiretroviral Drugs for Treating Pregnant Women and Preventing HIV Infection in Infants (PMTCT ARV Guidelines) |url=http://www.who.int/hiv/amds/who_elimination_vertical_transmission_n_shaffer.pdf |publisher=[[World Health Organization]] |pages=4–9 |access-date=February 10, 2016 }}</ref> * [[Syphilis]]<ref name=syphilis>{{cite journal |author=Berman SM 2004 |title=Maternal and Congenital Syphilis: Pathophysiology and treatment of maternal syphilis |url=http://www.who.int/bulletin/volumes/82/6/433.pdf |journal=Bulletin of the World Health Organization |publisher=[[World Health Organization]] |volume=82 |issue=6 |pages=433–438 |access-date=February 10, 2016}}</ref> ** Syphilis can cause [[miscarriage]], [[stillbirth]]s, infant death, and problems with many different [[Organ (anatomy)|organs]] in infants who do survive<ref name=cdc>{{cite web |url=https://www.cdc.gov/std/pregnancy/stdfact-pregnancy.htm |title=STDs during Pregnancy – CDC Fact Sheet |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=February 3, 2016 |website=CDC.gov |publisher=[[CDC|United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]] |access-date=February 9, 2016 }}</ref