TORCH infections refer to a group of congenital infections that can cause severe complications in newborns. The acronym stands for toxoplasmosis, other (syphilis, varicella-zoster, parvovirus B19), rubella, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and herpes simplex virus (HSV). These infections can be transmitted from the mother to the fetus during pregnancy or childbirth, leading to various health issues in the affected infants.