The Toxoplasmosis is an infectious disease , and is caused by Toxoplasma gondii, an intracellular parasite: Toxoplasma fact penetrates the cell and reproduces itself, feeding the cytoplasm.
Toxoplasmosis is contracted by humans in two ways: either by contact with cats that are affected , or through infected food .
How do you know if you have toxoplasmosis? It is very difficult, whereas it can also be 
asymptomatic or symptoms likened to other diseases. Generally, what is most striking are the swollen glands in the neck. However, there are several tests to be performed to diagnose, as the dosage of IgM and IgG specific , the dosage of IgA and IgG avidity and, for pregnant women, the dosage of IgM and IgA of cord blood and the Toxo- tests.
Toxoplasmosis is very dangerous during pregnancy , so it can cause mental retardation in the fetus, abortion, babies born prematurely or very underweight, and the child in his growth problems, such as jaundice, bruising, anemia and liver and spleen enlarged.
For this reason it is essential for pregnant women to be very careful. As a precaution, it is important to test your cat (if you have a cat in the house) and do not change his litter (the infection may be in contact with the feces of the cat), or always use the gloves , and do so frequently, Whereas the cysts of the parasite in cat feces hatch only after three days. Also take care to stroke cats unknown (the infection occurs via saliva of the cat).
But the cat is not the main reason of infection ! This is important to specify becausethere is no need to remove your pet when you are expecting a baby! actually are much more dangerous foods infected and that most are not cooked or washed in a workmanlike manner. Here are some tips for pregnant women about food:
- Being very attentive to the flesh : it is essential cook as much as possible, because it is the main risk in raw meat. For this reason it is best to avoid even the fresh sausage, sausages and salami. Thoroughly rinse the dishes and also dishes that are left in contact with the raw meat. Wash your hands very well and avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands, and that they came into contact with raw meat and sausages.
- Freeze the meat and sausages at a temperature below -12 ° C.
- Wash well with baking soda is the fruit that the vegetable , perhaps to avoid eating fruit with the peel.
- If you travel to a country that is not known and the hot and humid climate, be very careful to ‘water you drink .
And if you get toxoplasmosis during pregnancy? What to do? There are methods to prevent disease transmission to the fetus, namely of antibiotic treatments among which the most used is the spiramycin.
And if the transmission to the fetus has already occurred? You can prevent the disease evolves further to the doctor for help.
However, every pregnant woman should be tested for said Toxo-test , which can be positive (if it is infected or has contracted toxoplasmosis in the past) or negative (if you are not infected).
These are obviously very general advice: it will be essential for each individual case, ask for a personalized view of the physician to better address the situation and experience the pregnancy as it deserves, and that is without problems and as a wonderful time.
Originally posted 2012-11-25 18:39:12.