The chance of Toxoplasma infection in pregnant women

Toxoplasmosis is receiving more and more attention in our country. Most of the patients infected with toxoplasmosis are pregnant women with low immunity. If a pregnant woman is infected with toxoplasmosis, the fetus will also inherit the toxoplasmosis from the mother, causing congenital toxoplasmosis. Such a fetus usually has symptoms such as dementia and deformity. Pregnant women have special toxoplasmosis treatment drugs, which are different from ordinary people.

Studies have shown that for pregnant women who are first infected with Toxoplasma gondii at 13, 26, and 36 weeks of gestation, the fetal infection rates are 6%, 40%, and 72%, respectively, and the symptom incidence rates are 61%, 25%, and 9%, respectively. Alleged symptoms include miscarriage, neurological maldevelopment, hydrocephalus and blindness. Based on data from many domestic documents, the probability of a pregnant woman being infected with Toxoplasma gondii for the first time is much less than 1%.

How does Toxoplasma cause infection?

1. Cats are the only definitive hosts of Toxoplasma gondii. That is to say, Toxoplasma only produces eggs in cats.

Cats can become infected after eating infected game or raw meat.

2. 3-10 days after infection, the eggs begin to be excreted through the stool and last for about 10-14 days. The eggs take 1-5 days to become infectious in the environment. Generally speaking, when cats show symptoms, they have already passed the period of excreting worm eggs.

3. Other animals (including dogs) and humans are intermediate hosts and can become infected by eating infectious eggs, but they do not produce eggs in their bodies after infection. Therefore, dogs are not a transmission route for Toxoplasma gondii unless infected raw dog meat is handled or consumed.

4. In the United States, 22.5% of people over the age of 12 have been infected with Toxoplasma gondii. Globally, 95% of people in certain regions are infected with Toxoplasma gondii. The vast majority of people have no symptoms or only flu-like symptoms.

Symptoms of Toxoplasma gondii infection in pregnant women

1. Fever, fever sequence and duration are uncertain.

2. Rash: Common rashes include maculopapular rash and hemorrhagic rash.

3. Gastrointestinal symptoms: vomiting, intestinal flatulence, intractable diarrhea, mucus and blood in the stool, and symptoms similar to gastric ulcer, chronic gastritis, atrophic gastritis, appendicitis, colitis, etc. may occur.

4. Respiratory system symptoms: pneumonia and bronchitis may occur.

5. Jaundice and hepatitis-like symptoms. Jaundice may occur, or even absent in mild cases. Liver function tests may change, with the liver and spleen becoming enlarged.

6. Nervous system symptoms: headache, dizziness, neurasthenia, neurosis, schizophrenia, ADHD, phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, convulsions, epilepsy, paralysis, etc.

7. Cardiovascular; myocarditis, pericarditis, arrhythmia, premature beats, angina pectoris, abnormal blood pressure, thrombosis, vasculitis, etc.

8. Swollen lymph nodes

9. Body cavity effusion; edema

10. Eye diseases: such as retinitis, choroiditis, myopia, strabismus, nystagmus, microphthalmia, and microphthalmia.

11. Anemia: fatigue, low fever, physical weakness, dizziness, pale nails, lips and eyelids, irritability or depression, drowsiness, mouth pain, and amenorrhea in women. Loss of appetite, headaches, constipation, irritability and difficulty concentrating.

12. Urinary tract infection, appearance of red blood cells and tubular tubes in urine.

13. It can also cause glomerulonephritis.

14. It can cause osteoporosis, bone hyperplasia, bone spurs, and Toxoplasma can damage the bone marrow and cause hematopoietic system diseases. It can also cause cervical spondylosis and lumbar disc herniation.

15. Damage muscles, cause myositis and lumbar muscle injury. In addition to the diseases mentioned above, common symptoms among adolescents include headaches and dizziness, inability to concentrate on studying, and reluctance to complete homework. A few also experience depression, fatigue, lack of motivation, and mental pain. Some also experience hyperactivity, irritability, and irregular behavior. Symptoms in the elderly include geriatric diseases, coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, bone disease, liver and kidney disease, brain atrophy, etc.

Precautions for pregnant women to prevent Toxoplasma infection

1. Do not eat raw meat.

2. Do not consume unpasteurized dairy products.

3. Do not eat unwashed fruits and vegetables.

4. Do not drink water from the environment. Raw water needs to be boiled before drinking.

5. After handling raw meat, wash your hands and clean the countertops thoroughly with soap.

6. Wear gloves when touching flowers, trees and soil.

Wash your hands before eating.

7. Pregnant women have relatively weak immune systems and need to be careful about roundworms and hookworms in pets, as these two parasites can also be transmitted to humans.

8. Give your pet a comprehensive physical examination regularly and deworm internal and external parasites regularly to avoid parasites such as roundworms, hookworms, fleas, ticks and the diseases they transmit.

9. During pregnancy, pets and pregnant women are both treasures of the family. If you feel unwell, you need to seek medical attention immediately.