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Toxoplasmosis is one of the most dangerous diseases against which pregnant women must protect themselves. It is a parasitic disease that not only causes havoc in the mother’s body, but has an extremely negative effect on the developing fetus. The intermediate host of the parasite that infects humans is the domestic cat.
How can you get infected?
Mainly, infection occurs through the consumption of raw or improperly thermally treated meat with parasitic cysts. You can also become infected by contact with cats. Especially when eating food that may be contaminated with feces, saliva or urine of cats suffering from toxoplasmosis. Rarely, but still, there is droplet infection.
The first symptoms may not be visible
This disease is so dangerous for pregnant women that you may not even know that you are infected. Symptoms can be hidden for a long time and not show up at all. Sometimes, however, it is quite the opposite – they manifest themselves quite strongly. Fever appears, lymph nodes become enlarged, meningitis and encephalitis may occur, and there are also ailments from the joints and other organs. The first symptoms, if they occur at all, may resemble the familiar symptoms of a cold or flu.
Effect of toxoplasmosis on the fetus
Unfortunately, if the mother is sick, the child will also be infected. The symptoms of the disease in the fetus and the side effects caused by them are virtually irreversible. The central nervous system is most often impaired. The disease can occur in acute and chronic form, very often it leads to fetal death.
Disease prevention
- Taking care of your body is extremely important during pregnancy. Remember to wash your hands frequently, especially before preparing or eating food
- Vegetables and fruits from your own and other crops should be washed very carefully, because they may have come into contact with infected animals
- A pregnant woman should also be especially careful about the meat she eats. During this time, you must not eat the popular “tartars” or other meat dishes prepared without their thermal processing
Treatment of toxoplasmosis
The mother is relatively easy to cure if the disease is detected in advance and before pregnancy. It is then subject to antibiotic treatment, sometimes it needs to be repeated several times in a row. For pregnant women, the treatment is different, the woman is treated with different types of drugs. Unfortunately, treatment cannot be applied to neonates who have survived the infection – damage to the central nervous system and organ damage is irreversible.