Listeriosis and toxoplasmosis in pregnancy
Listeriosis and toxoplasmosis are foodborne infections that pregnant women should avoid by all means. Although suffering from them is rare, these can trigger very serious consequences for the health of the mother or the baby. To avoid contracting them, you must Pay special attention to your food hygiene.
Listeriosis and toxoplasmosis are pathologies that we can suffer without knowing and, therefore, not know if we are immune or not in front of them.
How are listeriosis and toxoplasmosis contracted?
Most people are not at risk if they get these two diseases, in the case of pregnant women and newborns, the opposite occurs. Listeriosis is contracted by a bacterium that can be found in various foods. While, Toxoplasmosis is caused by a parasite that multiplies in the intestine of cats and is eliminated in the feces of these. They are transmitted by consuming raw or undercooked meat, previously contaminated, and by contact with cats.
Symptoms of listeriosis and toxoplasmosis
The symptoms are similar to those of the flu presenting diarrhea and stomach pain. The consequences of these diseases are innumerable: presenting the baby with a microcephaly, that is, having a smaller head than normal, intracranial calcifications, cataracts, triggering a premature birth, abortion, delivery of a dead fetus or serious neurological sequelae. Even so, during and after delivery, we can cope with listeriosis and toxoplasmosis with specialized drugs.
Tips to prevent listeriosis and toxoplasmosis
- Monitor the expiration dates in food.
- Frequently clean the fridge and keep it to a temperature less than 4 ºC.
- Wash your hands with hot water and soap after handling fresh food. If you practice gardening or have plants at home always try to use gloves.
- Cook all foods very well. Pay special attention to meats, seafood and fish.
- Avoid smoked fish and seafood. As for example, salmon, trout, cod, tuna or mackerel.
- Avoid meat derivatives. These are sausages, pâtés, cold meats and sausages.
- Avoid white cheese (Brie or Camembert) and those of moldy paste or with blue veins (Roquefort or Cabrales). On the contrary, it is advisable to eat hard cheeses such as Cheddar or Mozzarella, and pasteurized cheese spread, cream cheese, cottage cheese or yogurt.
- Do not drink milk that is not pasteurized nor derivatives.
- If you have a cat, orders your care in the months of pregnancy to another person (here you can find more information about animals and pregnancy).
Listeriosis and toxoplasmosis: to take into account ...
- If you have plants at home or you like gardening, try using gloves to work in the garden and wash your hands well when finished.
- Be careful if there are little brothers at home and they usually play in sandboxes. Cats usually use them. Wash the child's hands well and yours when returning from the park.
- For take salads safely, remember that you must carefully wash all its ingredients.
- Remember that in pregnancy The hormonal changes produce an effect on the mother's immune system that makes her more susceptible to diseases.
- Eye with the cockroaches, because they can transmit to the food dirt or fecal matter of contaminated cat.
Avoid rubbing your eyes or face when preparing food. The most important not to get infected is hygiene: meticulously wash fruits and vegetables, cutting boards, dishes, utensils used, storage containers, etc., in order to eliminate any bacteria that contaminate food.
May Notary
Advice:Dr. Pedro de León Molinari. Director of the Comprehensive Pediatric Assistance Clinic.
