Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. It is a dangerous microscopic organism that can be found in soil, undercooked meat, and dirty water. The primary route of infection is through faeces from domestic cats, which carry toxoplasmosis. Though the parasite is mild or asymptomatic in adults, it can pose significant threats during pregnancy.
As Cloudnine, we realise the importance of having a safe and healthy pregnancy. Cloudnine’s professional services provide pregnant women with accurate information, timely tests, and proper treatments aimed at preventing any possible harm, including infections such as toxoplasmosis.
Although toxoplasmosis is generally harmless in individuals whose immune systems are strong, it can result in complications for the baby if a woman catches it while she is pregnant. As such, the likelihood of transmission to the unborn child depends on when the mother contacts the infection:
1. First trimester: Although the possibility of infection remains small, its severity is alarming if it should happen.
2. Second trimester: There is an increased rate at which toxoplasmosis is transmitted from mothers to their children, and this can lead to developmental problems.
3. Third trimester: This period records the highest rates of transmission, but symptoms may sometimes be less severe among infants or even manifest later in life.
Given that many pregnant women do not realise they have the infection, they must know how to recognise toxoplasmosis symptoms in pregnancy, as well as adhere to proper guidance to lower chances of experiencing risks.
Toxoplasmosis often goes unnoticed as it can be asymptomatic or mimic mild flu-like symptoms. Symptoms of toxoplasmosis in pregnancy may include:
● Fatigue and muscle aches
● High fever with chills
● Swollen lymph nodes
● Headache pain
Some individuals may develop blurred vision due to eye infections after being infected by Toxoplasma and experience ailments such as going blind.
One of the most well-known risk factors for toxoplasmosis is exposure to infected cat faeces. Although cats are the natural host of Toxoplasma gondii, not every cat contains this parasite within its system. The danger arises when handling soil, litter or even eating undercooked meat that has been contaminated with the T. gondii parasite.
1. Avoid cleaning cat litter trays. If you must change the litter, use gloves and wash your hands afterward.
2. Keep your cat inside the house so that it does not come into contact with the protists.
3. Ensure your cat eats only cooked or commercial foods without any raw meat.
4. Do not forget to cleanse your hands after touching a cat, especially when eating.
Pregnant mothers can always turn to Cloudnine’s antenatal care specialists for advice on handling their pets safely while taking care of themselves.
The best way to prevent contracting toxoplasmosis is to understand the right toxoplasmosis in pregnancy guidelines. Some of these guidelines include:
1. Food Safety Measures:
Eating undercooked or raw meat should be avoided. To kill harmful bacteria on meat products, they should be cooked until safe internal temperatures are reached.
Before consuming them, ensure that fruits and vegetables have been properly washed first.
Do not take in unpasteurised dairy products as these could cause harm instead of benefiting consumers with their products.
2. Personal Hygiene Practices:
After coming into contact with soil, raw meat or pet animals, ensure that you wash your hands thoroughly so that the bacteria will be washed away.
If you manage soil during gardening, use hand gloves to avoid touching infected dust from faeces on the ground.
3. Medical Screening & Prenatal Care:
A blood test can easily detect toxoplasmosis. If the test results are negative, necessary precautions must be taken to prevent infection.
If treatment is required, the expert team of Cloudnine can offer medical advice and safe therapy to protect the unborn baby from the virus.
By complying with these toxoplasmosis in pregnancy guidelines, mothers-to-be can reduce their risk of getting the disease to a great extent.
Cloudnine assures maternal and fetal well-being by providing comprehensive prenatal screenings and consultations on infection control. Ensure the following pointers:
● Regular prenatal checks help identify various infections like toxoplasmosis.
● Healthy nutrition for expectant mothers is important, as is learning to select foods safely during gestation.
● An approach tailored towards each individual for effectively managing pregnancy complications or improving birth health outcomes.
Cloudnine’s proficient team of doctors and other healthcare staff pay close attention to the detailed needs of every mom-to-be concerning medical assistance.
Toxoplasmosis is a preventable disease, and if pregnant women adhere to relevant guidelines, they can save their lives as well as the lives of their unborn children. The reduction of adverse outcomes lies in the awareness of women about toxoplasmosis symptoms during pregnancy, care for good hygiene practices, as well as avoiding risky exposures like cat toxoplasmosis during pregnancy.
Cloudnine is committed to offering the finest pregnancy care services through expert counselling and medical care. Therefore, if you are pregnant, visit our clinic, where we have a team of doctors specialised in maternity services who will provide you with quality advice on how to have a better life during pregnancy.
The earlier in pregnancy you get infected, the more serious the baby's problems may be after birth. The baby could suffer damage to the liver, brain and eyes. Up to 1 in 2 babies who are infected with toxoplasmosis during the pregnancy are born early (prematurely). Some infected babies may even die.
Wear gloves when gardening or touching soil or sand contaminated with cat feces containing Toxoplasma. It is advised to wash hands with soap and water whenever you feel you touched something contaminated with cat feces containing Toxoplasma. Moreover, if you own a cat, change its litter box daily.
Environmental factors such as contact with soil or cats and consumption of raw or undercooked meat, unwashed vegetables, etc. are significant risk factors for toxoplasmosis.
The treatment of toxoplasmosis typically includes combinations of two antimicrobials. These drugs act as inhibitors of dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) (pyrimethamine and trimethoprim) and dihydropteroate synthetase (sulfonamides, such as sulfadiazine, sulfamethoxazole, and sulfadoxine), which block folic acid synthesis.
