Toxoplasmosis: symptoms, causes, contagion and how to avoid it

For those who have cats (like me), and at some point they have considered the possibility of having children, it is more than likely that more myths or erroneous beliefs have reached their ears than reliable truths directly related to the toxoplasmosis. It is normal in this sense to hear almost unbelievable phrases like that because of the simple fact of having cats and that the woman becomes pregnant she is going to get toxoplasmosis.

The truth is that, as we will know throughout this article, there is more to myth than reality. In fact, did you know that you are more likely to get toxoplasmosis by eating undercooked or raw infected meat (pork, lamb and beef), or with infected water and vegetables? Even the infection can come from blood transfusions or the transplant of solid organs.

What is toxoplasmosis?

The toxoplasmosis It is characterized by being a infectious disease caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. It is usually a mild illness, but it can get complicated until it becomes fatal, especially in cats and human fetuses.

The cat has always been related to being its definitive host, but the truth is that humans can also host it, and they have not necessarily had to get it through the cat, as we will discover in the next section.

How to avoid and prevent the spread of toxoplasmosis

Routes of toxoplasmosis infection

By oral contact with water, soil and infected vegetables (ie, by ingestion).
Transfusion of blood or transplant of solid organs.
Eat raw, undercooked or undercooked meat.
By inadequate contact with infected cat feces (that is, if you touch the feces and then without realizing it, you put your hands to your mouth, which is more than unlikely if you keep basic hygiene guidelines).

Symptoms of toxoplasmosis

In general it is possible that toxoplasmosis do not cause symptom, although they do appear about 1 to 2 weeks after the person has come into contact with the parasite. May cause:

Inflammation of lymph nodes in head and neck.
Headache.
Fever.
Muscle pains.
Sore throat.
Mild disease (similar to mononucleosis).

How is toxoplasmosis diagnosed?

If there are indications that the person is infected, especially in pregnancy, the most normal thing is to perform a blood test to measure the levels of two antibodies. If it is positive, the specialist may request a new analysis in two or three weeks, which helps confirm the initial results and thus specify the date on which it could have been infected.

How to avoid the spread of toxoplasmosis?

There are a number of basic tips that can be very useful in preventing the transmission and spread of toxoplasmosis:

Avoid consuming badly cooked meats.
Wash your hands after handling raw meat.
Remove the skin or wash the vegetables well before consuming them.
Wash your hands thoroughly after being in contact with soil contaminated possibly with animal feces.
If you have a garden or a garden, do the work with gloves.

In case you are pregnant, you can take even more precautions:

Avoid cleaning cats' waste boxes.
Avoid touching anything that may contain cat feces.
Avoid touching insects exposed to cat feces, such as cockroaches or flies.

Toxoplasmosis and pregnancy

In the case of pregnancy, the likelihood of the disease being transmitted to the fetus is lower during the first trimester, but the risk to the fetus tends to be more serious. However, in the third trimester the opposite happens: the symptomatology is milder but the risk of acquiring it is higher.

The consequences for the baby can be mild or severe, causing a miscarriage, the death of the baby at birth or his death shortly after birth.

Some babies may have symptoms at birth, such as jaundice, hepatomegaly (enlargement of the liver), splenomegaly (enlargement of the spleen), heart or lung infection, lymphadenopathy (enlarged lymph nodes), and rash.

If the results of the tests indicate that the future mother has contracted toxoplasmosis during pregnancy, the doctor may start treating her with antibiotics, which reduce the risk of transmission to the baby.

If confirmed that the baby is also positive, for about a year will be treated with antibiotics, which will help reduce the risk of the baby to develop new problems during childhood. This article is published for informational purposes only.It can not and should not replace the consultation with a Physician. We advise you to consult your Trusted Doctor. ThemesInfections