Definition of toxoplasmosis Toxoplasmosis is an infectious disease caused by a protozoan parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. This parasite is usually found in the intestine of cat form oocysts , but it is also found in other animals such as beef , mutton or pork. Toxoplasmosis , usually benign , however , is dangerous in the case of transmission of the pregnant woman to the fetus. This is called congenital toxoplasmosis.
Pregnancy and toxoplasmosis More than 80% are immunized against toxoplasmosis in 20 years , but only 54% of pregnant women were at the last perinatal survey in 1995 , and about 43% in 2003.
How do you get toxoplasmosis? Toxoplasmosis is transmitted through cat feces exclusively , as well as food that could be contaminated. When a pregnant woman is not immune , hygiene measures and precautions are necessary to protect the fetus.
How to protect against toxoplasmosis? Official recommendations for the prevention of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women are grouped into three categories: essential , additional and subject to caution.
Recommendations concerning the necessary hygienic - Personal: wash your hands and brush your nails after handling raw meat , raw vegetables contaminated by soil or after gardening and before each meal;
- Domestic: Wear gloves when contact with the ground , wash every day by someone else cat litter with boiling water , be wary of young cats who hunt or stray cats;
- Food: cook any kind of meat with a heart temperature between 68 and 72 ° C to avoid cooking in the microwave , wash thoroughly cooking utensils and work plans , as well as vegetables and plants aromatic , especially those eaten raw and often soiled by the earth as radishes , strawberries , lettuce and mushrooms.
Additional recommendations against the toxoplasmosis include: - Freezing: temperatures below - 18 ° C allow the destruction of cysts;
- Meals outside the home: only eat meat that is cooked , avoid raw vegetables , cooked vegetables prefer.
Recommendations under the precautionary concern unsuitable foods: raw goat milk , meat , marinated , pickled or smoked , oysters , mussels and other shellfish eaten raw.
Symptoms of toxoplasmosis Fever , muscle aches or headaches or throat (Table influenza) are symptoms that should alert pregnant women and lead them to consult as soon as possible. Lymph nodes are usually enlarged. A blood test is needed to diagnose with certainty.
