Pregnancy and Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a parasite. Your body can usually fight off the infection without you ever having symptoms. If you get toxoplasmosis during pregnancy, there is a chance the infection will spread to your baby. If this happens, your baby may develop serious health problems, such as blindness, intellectual disabilities, and other neurological disorders. Some of these problems may not show up for years.
HOW DO PEOPLE GET TOXOPLASMOSIS?
You can get toxoplasmosis if you:
• Touch anything contaminated with infected cat feces and then touch your mouth.
• Eat raw or undercooked meat from an infected animal.
• Eat fruits and vegetables grown in contaminated soil.
Your baby can get toxoplasmosis through your …show more content…
The only way to know for sure is with a test. People with toxoplasmosis do not always have symptoms. If symptoms are present, they may include:
• A fever.
• Swollen glands.
• Muscle aches.
• Headaches.
You may feel like you have the cold or the flu.
If you think you have toxoplasmosis, or if you think you may have been exposed to it, call your health care provider.
HOW IS TOXOPLASMOSIS DIAGNOSED?
When you become pregnant, your health care provider may order a blood test to check whether you have ever had toxoplasmosis.
• If you have had toxoplasmosis before, you cannot get it again.
• If you have never had toxoplasmosis, your health care provider may repeat this test at a later date.
• If you become infected during pregnancy, your health care provider may do more tests to find out whether the infection has spread to the baby.
• Tests may include amniotic fluid test (amniocentesis) and an ultrasound.
HOW IS TOXOPLASMOSIS TREATED?
Toxoplasmosis may be treated with antibiotics and other medicines.
• Some of these medicines can lower your baby's chance of developing complications later on.
• Medicines may need to be taken for up to one
Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a parasite. Your body can usually fight off the infection without you ever having symptoms. If you get toxoplasmosis during pregnancy, there is a chance the infection will spread to your baby. If this happens, your baby may develop serious health problems, such as blindness, intellectual disabilities, and other neurological disorders. Some of these problems may not show up for years.
HOW DO PEOPLE GET TOXOPLASMOSIS?
You can get toxoplasmosis if you:
• Touch anything contaminated with infected cat feces and then touch your mouth.
• Eat raw or undercooked meat from an infected animal.
• Eat fruits and vegetables grown in contaminated soil.
Your baby can get toxoplasmosis through your …show more content…
The only way to know for sure is with a test. People with toxoplasmosis do not always have symptoms. If symptoms are present, they may include:
• A fever.
• Swollen glands.
• Muscle aches.
• Headaches.
You may feel like you have the cold or the flu.
If you think you have toxoplasmosis, or if you think you may have been exposed to it, call your health care provider.
HOW IS TOXOPLASMOSIS DIAGNOSED?
When you become pregnant, your health care provider may order a blood test to check whether you have ever had toxoplasmosis.
• If you have had toxoplasmosis before, you cannot get it again.
• If you have never had toxoplasmosis, your health care provider may repeat this test at a later date.
• If you become infected during pregnancy, your health care provider may do more tests to find out whether the infection has spread to the baby.
• Tests may include amniotic fluid test (amniocentesis) and an ultrasound.
HOW IS TOXOPLASMOSIS TREATED?
Toxoplasmosis may be treated with antibiotics and other medicines.
• Some of these medicines can lower your baby's chance of developing complications later on.
• Medicines may need to be taken for up to one