Toxoplasmosis During Pregnancy - Causes, Symptoms & Treament

Overview

Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. In non-pregnant women it can cause meningitis but women infected during pregnancy can transmit infection via placenta, causing eye and brain damage to child later in life.

Signs and Symptoms

Swollen glands, Muscle aches, Fatigue, Fever, Sore throat, Skin rash, Abdominal pain, Premature birth.

Common Causes

Eating infected meat that hasn't been fully cooked or frozen, Handling contaminated soil or cat litter, Organ transplant, Ingestion of unpasteurized milk, Contaminated blood transfusion.

Risk Factors

Pregnant women who works at slaughterhouse or as butchers, Immunologically impaired patients, Fetuses, Newborns

Investigation Techniques

Blood test, Blood culture, Antenatal screening, Fetal biophysical profile via ultrasound, Amniocentesis, Ultrasound, Molecular diagnosis, ELISA test, Lymph node biopsy

Treatment and Prevention

Spiramycin, Combination of pyrimethamine and sulphadiazine

Generics