What is toxoplasmosis, and for wha...

What is toxoplasmosis, and for what reason do you get it?

Toxoplasmosis (say: tox-oh-plaz-moh-sis) is an infection caused on a tiny parasite. You would ne a microscope to diocese it.

You can earn toxoplasmosis in the following ways:

* by way of swallowing the parasite in cat litter or dirt that has cat droppings in it. This can happen if you impose your hands to your opening after gardening, cleaning a cat litter coachman's seat or touching anything that has been in contact with cat droppings. Cats sometimes carry the parasite that causes toxoplasmosis.

* at eating raw or partly dress uped meat, especially pork, lamb, or wild game.

* through touching something, such as a cutting board or dish, that has been in contact with raw or undercook meat and then putting your hands to your mouth

* by dint of eating unwashed raw fruits and vegetables, or drinking water with the parasite in it.

If you are pregnant when you first prepare toxoplasmosis, you can pass the infection to your unborn child. If you have toxoplasmosis before you memorize pregnant, you are unlikely to pass it to your baby.

tribe who have an organ transplant or a life-current transfusion also can get toxoplasmosis. However, this rarely happens.

If you have a healthy immune scheme and are not pregnant, you probably do not ne to worry about toxoplasmosis.

What are the symptoms of toxoplasmosis?

most numerous people have no symptoms because their immune classification keeps the parasite from causing illness. If you have symptoms, they may be like the "flu" Your glands may be swollen and your muscles may be sore for a not many days to several weeks.

If you have a weak immune a whole toxoplasmosis can cause serious medical question s such as damage to your observations and brain. Your immune order can become weak for a number of reasons. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection leading to AIDS can weaken the immune order So can some kinds of cancer chemotherapy or medicines that are taken after an organ transplant.

Babies with toxoplasmosis can have brain damage, inspection damage, and other physical and mental enigmas Some problems may not display up for years.

in what manner do I know I have toxoplasmosis?

Routine screening for toxoplasmosis is not make acceptableed However, if you are at risk for toxoplasmosis, your doctor might want you to have a children test.

How is toxoplasmosis treated?

If the vital fluid test shows that you have toxoplasmosis, you and your doctor can decide if you ne to be treated. If you are otherwise healthy and not pregnant, you probably do not ne any treatment.

If you are pregnant or have a weak immune combination of parts to form a whole you might need to take any medicines to treat toxoplasmosis.

A baby with toxoplasmosis has to be treated with medicine.

by what mode can I keep from getting toxoplasmosis?

Here are a certain things you can do to defend yourself from getting toxoplasmosis:

* Wear glove when you work in the dirt. Cats frequently use gardens and sandboxes as litter boxes

* After outdoor activities, wash your hands with soap and warm water, especially before you eat or prepare food

* Use impetuous soapy water to clean cutting boards, dishes, and other items after they have been in contact with raw meat, domestic fowls or seafood, or unwashed fruits and vegetables.

* prepare for the table meat until it is no longer pink in the center or until the juices trip clear (160 degrees Fahrenheit in succession a meat thermometer). Do not taste meat before it is completely cooked.

* When eating in restaurants or other places, do not eat undercook meat.

* Avoid drinking untreated water especially when traveling in les make knowned countries.

I have a cat. Can I restrain it?

Yes. If you are pregnant or your immune combination of parts to form a whole is weak, here are any things you can do to detain from getting toxoplasmosis:

* continue your cat indoors so that it does not pick up the toxoplasmosis parasite from the animals it hunts

* Fe your cat merely dry or canned cat meat Like humans, cats can become infected with toxoplasmosis on eating raw or undercooked meat.

* Do not bring a of recent origin cat into your house if the animal might have been an outdoor cat or might have been f raw meat. Do not handle stray cats or kittens.

* Have a individual who is healthy and not pregnant change your cat's litter chest If you have to change the cat litter yourself, wear glove while you do it. When you finish, wash your hands well with soap and warm water. Clean the litter receptacle daily.

Cats solitary spread toxoplasmosis in their droppings for a scarcely any weeks in their lives, usually after they are first infected. There is no benefit to having your cat's droppings ordealed for the toxoplasmosis parasite.

Where can I finish more information about toxoplasmosis?

You can procure more information at this Web site: www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasites/ toxoplasmosis/default.htm

COPYRIGHT 2003 American Academy of Family Physicians

COPYRIGHT 2003 Gale Group