Toxoplasmosis (cont.)
Can toxoplasmosis develop into a more serious illness in babies?
Yes, the immune system in infants is not fully mature until after birth.
The babies of women who were exposed to toxo within a few months of becoming pregnant or during pregnancy are at an increased risk for developing a severe case of toxo. According to the NIH (U.S. National Institutes of Health), pregnant women who newly contract the toxoplasmosis parasite have a 40% chance of transmitting it to their unborn child. Women who were first exposed to toxo more than six months before becoming pregnant are not likely to pass the infection to their children.
Most infants have no symptoms at birth, but a small percentage may be born with eye or brain damage. Unfortunately, the signs and symptoms of the disease often appear a few months after birth.
What is meant by a baby developing "a more severe case of toxo"?
Children born with toxoplasmosis can be afflicted with mental
retardation, convulsions, spasticity, cerebral palsy, deafness, and
severely impaired vision. The infant's head may be abnormally small
(microcephaly) or abnormally large due to increased pressure on the
brain (hydrocephalus).
How is toxo diagnosed in the lab?
There are many different kinds of blood tests for toxoplasmosis.
The results can determine if the patient has had toxo and whether the
infection is recent ("acute") or not.
How can toxoplasmosis be prevented?
Since toxo usually causes mild to no symptoms, and a
healthy immune system prevents any remaining parasites in the body
from causing further symptoms, most people don't need to worry about
getting this disease.
However, if you have a weakened immune system or are pregnant,
there are several steps you should take to prevent exposure to
toxoplasmosis.
- If you have a weakened immune system, get a blood test for
toxoplasmosis. If your test is positive, your doctor can tell you if
and when you need to take medicine to prevent the infection from
reactivating.
- If you are planning on becoming pregnant, you may consider being
tested for toxo. If the test is positive, there is no need to worry
about passing the infection to your baby (since you should have
immunity against the parasite).
- If you are already pregnant, you should discuss your risk of
toxoplasmosis with your doctor who may order a blood sample for
testing.
- Wear gloves when you garden or do anything outdoors that involves handling soil since cats often use gardens and sandboxes as litter boxes. Wash your hands well with soap and warm water after outdoor activities, especially before you eat or prepare food.
- Have someone else handle raw meat for
you. If this is not possible, wear clean latex gloves and thoroughly wash with soap and hot water any cutting
boards, sinks, knives, and other utensils that might have touched the
raw meat. Wash your hands well with soap and warm water
afterward.
- Cook all meat thoroughly, especially pork or veal.
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