You are pregnant? Then go forgetting the chorizo, ham, undercooked meat, unpasteurized cheeses, blah, blah, blah. It is the phrase we all have prepared to release when someone tells us that they are pregnant. Something quite useless, because I would bet that every woman knows by heart the retail of cons that brings Toxoplasmosis, a true headache for every pregnant woman.
What is toxoplasmosis?
The toxoplasmosis It is an infectious disease caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular parasite. Normally it does not usually present a problem in healthy people, but it can present a serious problem in the elderly, children and adults with the depressed immune system, and of course, being an organism capable of crossing the placenta is extremely dangerous for the fetus, to the power infect him causing what we know by Congenital toxoplasmosis.
The life cycle of the parasite
Although it has always been believed that the cats were the transmitters of the parasite, this is not true, At least not at all. The cat as such cannot infect us and therefore it is safe to pet them or continue to live with us during pregnancy. What they can be contagious are your feces and that is what we have to be very careful with.
It should also be taken into account that if a cat is not infected with the parasite and it does not leave the house, does not eat raw meat and has no contact with other animals that may be carriers, it will not be infected and therefore will remain safe for U.S. If instead, our cat circulates freely outside, hunts birds or mice and has contact with other cats if you have to be careful.
When the parasite infects a cat it has an incubation period of between 3 and 20 days, depending on the way in which the parasite has been ingested. After and for only a period of one month, release the oocysts in the stool After that, even if he becomes infected again, he will never release oocysts. The oocysts are released in an immature state, that is, they do not have infectious capacity until after 24 or 48 hours, so it is very important to clean the sandbox of our pets, especially to take advantage of that window in which they are maturing.
However the most common route of infection is by eating infected meat with the parasite that has not been cooked enough or that is raw. Also the consumption of fruits and vegetables without having been washed properly can be an important source of infection, because the most common means where we can find our unpleasant friend is the earth. Therefore, people who usually manage land such as gardeners and farmers have to pay special attention to their hygiene and wash their hands thoroughly. Earth can remain with oocysts under the nails and it is easy to put your hands in your mouth causing the parasite to enter the body. Pregnant women should avoid working with dirt and without gloves, and still wash their hands well afterwards.
Other routes of infection, although uncommon today, may be blood transfusions and organ transplantation.
Congenital toxoplasmosis
Once the parasite has entered the mother, it is possible that it can cross the placenta and infect the fetus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States estimates that only 15% of women of childbearing age are immune to toxoplasmosis and therefore will not be infected. The probability that the parasite can infect the fetus depends on when the mother has been infected, being higher at the end of pregnancy (60%. During the first trimester of pregnancy the probability is 15% although it is by far the stage in the that the fetus is in more danger, because the disease can cause serious consequences and even death.
Toxoplasmosis can be treated with medications (antibiotics) and it is doctors who must calculate the necessary dose by weighing the risks to the fetus.
Clinical picture
Most cases of infection are asymptomatic and in case of presenting any symptoms, these soles are short-lived and similar to a common flu, so many women who become infected do not usually realize well until birth or in case they The baby has not been infected until the next pregnancy.
Tips to avoid getting infected
- Avoid manipulating animal feces, especially those of cats.
- Avoid handling land without proper protection.
- Maintain proper hand hygiene.
- Do not eat raw or undercooked meat.
- Wash vegetables properly before eating.
- Freeze the meat a few days before cooking. The organism is destroyed after freezing for 4 days between -7 ° C and -12 ° C and the oocytes after 3 days at -20 ° C
- Avoid drinking unpasteurized milk or any dairy product made with unpasteurized milk.
Recent studies have shown that serrano ham, a food prohibited during pregnancy due to being a possible source of infection, could be safe to consume, as long as it is well cured.
