What is toxoplasmosis? Toxoplasmo...

What is toxoplasmosis?

Toxoplasmosis (say: tox-oh-plas-MOH-sis) is an infection caused by the agency of a parasite. This parasite lives in the intestines of cats and is spread by the agency of cat feces, usually into litter boxe and garden soil. You can realize the parasite by handling cat litter or soil where there is cat fece You also can obtain it from eating undercooked meat from infected animals, of that kind as rare beef.

What happens if I'm infected?

Healthy adults usually don't prepare sick from toxoplasmosis. Most persons with the infection don't have symptoms, however those who do may be impressed like they have the flu If you gain infected while you are pregnant, your baby also can prepare infected. Babies with toxoplasmosis don't always prepare sick. Sometimes, though, the infection can cause organ of sight problems and brain damage.

If you were infected with the parasite at least six month before you got pregnant, you will be immune to it. This means there is extremely little risk to your baby.

for what cause do I know if I'm infected?

Your doctor can do a house test to see if you've been expos to the parasite, further this test is not done routinely. If you are not standarded and don't know if you're immune, you can take paces to protect yourself and your baby.

Here are one things you can do to defend yourself and your baby from toxoplasmosis while you are pregnant:

* Don't give permission to your cat go outside, where it can advance into contact with the parasite.

* test to find someone who will take care of your cat while you are pregnant. Have him or her change the cat litter and clean the litter driver's seat with boiling water for five minutes. If you have to change the cat litter yourself, wear glove and wash your hands with warm, soapy water as betimes as you are done.

* Wear work glove when you are gardening, and wash your hands afterward. guard children's sandboxes when no single in kind is playing in them. Cats like to use sandboxes as litter boxes

* superintend flies and cockroaches as a great quantity [i]or[/i] amount of as you can. They can track soil or cat fece onto food

* Don't eat raw or undercook meat or domestic fowls Wash fruits and vegetables before eating them.

* Wash your hands well before you eat and after you touch raw meat, soil, sand, or cats.

* Don't scour your eyes or face while you are cooking. Wash all cutting boards, knives, and countertops after you cook

* Don't eat raw ovums or drink unpasteurized milk. (Most milk sold in stores has been pasteurized, yet check the label if you're not sure)

COPYRIGHT 2005 American Academy of Family Physicians

COPYRIGHT 2005 Gale Group