What can happen during pregnancy if a woman becomes infected with toxoplasmosis?

What can happen during pregnancy if a woman becomes infected with toxoplasmosis?

Caught during pregnancy, toxoplasmosis can cause miscarriage, stillbirth or damage to the baby’s brain and other organs, particularly the eyes. However, most babies born with toxoplasmosis have no obvious damage at birth but develop symptoms, usually eye damage, during childhood or even adulthood.

How common is it to get toxoplasmosis while pregnant?

Around 65% to 85% of people who are pregnant in the United States have a chance of getting toxoplasmosis. People who have recently gotten a cat or have outdoor cats, eat undercooked meat, garden, or who have had a recent mononucleosis-type illness have an increased chance of getting toxoplasmosis.

How does a pregnant woman know if she has toxoplasmosis?

If you have toxoplasmosis during pregnancy, your health care provider may suggest a test called amniocentesis (also called amnio) to see if your baby is infected. Amnio is a test that takes some amniotic fluid from around your baby in the uterus. You can get this test at 15 to 20 weeks of pregnancy.

Has anyone got toxoplasmosis while pregnant?

(If you had toxoplasmosis in the past, you won’t get it again, and your baby will be protected by your immunity.) Fortunately, the number of women who contract the infection during pregnancy is still relatively small, and not all of them transmit it to their babies.

Can you treat toxoplasmosis while pregnant?

The Toxoplasma infection can be treated during pregnancy with antibiotic medication. The earlier the infection is identified and treated, the greater the chance of preventing infection of the unborn child. If the child has already been infected, treatment can make the disease less severe.

Can toxoplasmosis be treated during pregnancy?

Should I get tested for toxoplasmosis while pregnant?

If you’re pregnant or planning to have a baby and are worried that you may have toxoplasmosis, ask your doctor about getting tested. Routine testing is not recommended for most women. After you have had the infection, you’re usually immune and can’t get it again or pass it on to your baby.

When should I get tested for toxoplasmosis while pregnant?

They call for more education of pregnant women on toxoplasmosis. Doctors should watch carefully for symptoms. Mothers should get blood tests with the first prenatal visit in the first trimester and monthly afterward. Newborns should also be tested, writes Boyer.