Listeriosis is an infectious disease, the causative agents of which are listeria bacteria. They are able to penetrate and develop in the cells of the body. Disease listeriosis, the symptoms of which in the early stages are absent, in 50% of cases ends in a fatal outcome.
More often than not, pregnant women face complications. Listeriosis can cause early birth, miscarriage or death. There is also an increased risk of complications in the elderly and those with weakened immunity. Now often with листериозом narcomaniacs which regularly ruin the immunity face.
How does the infection occur?
The causative agent of listeriosis is a listeria bacterium, which is a small stick that does not form a spore. In terms of their properties, listeria is similar to the pathogens of diphtheria, therefore, to determine listeriosis, it is important to be able to distinguish these bacteria.
Domestic and wild animals are most susceptible to listeriosis. There is this disease in sheep, goats, cats, dogs. Infection from rodents is transmitted to pets, after which they themselves become carriers of the disease. A person can become infected by eating contaminated meat, eggs, milk, or through infected hands.
Products in which there are listeria retain viability at a temperature of 6 degrees. This means that storing such food in the refrigerator does not reduce the number of pathogens of listeriosis. The listeria is bent under heat treatment, lasting not less than half an hour.
Symptoms of Listeriosis
Usually, the symptoms show up only two weeks after infection. The most characteristic symptoms of listeriosis are:
- nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain;
- fatigue, drowsiness;
- fever, muscle pain.
In many cases, the symptoms go to the brain. In this case it is observed:
- reduction of mental activity;
- confusion of consciousness;
- headaches ;
- convulsions;
- problems with maintaining balance.
When a pregnant woman is infected, the disease is not dangerous for her, but it negatively affects the baby's health. If the child remains alive, it is likely that he will have conjunctivitis , papular rash and education in the spleen and liver.
Listeriosis - Diagnosis
Before making a diagnosis, the doctor should exclude the presence of the patient in such diseases as diphtheria, meningitis, mononucleosis, angina. Since the symptomatology of the disease is quite extensive, the diagnosis requires serological, bacteriological and biobacteriological studies. The patient gives a blood test for listeriosis. Also to determine the disease, the cerebrospinal fluid, tonsillitis, amniotic fluid, lymph node tissues or liver are examined.
Treatment of listeriosis
Due to the fact that the symptoms of listeriosis manifest late, very rarely treatment of the disease ends in success. To combat the disease, the patient is prescribed the intake of antibiotics such as ampicillin, biseptol, gentamicin. If the patient has abscesses of the brain, then he is prescribed a long course of treatment, including the administration of imunofan and thymalin.
Prevention of listeriosis
To prevent listeria from entering the body, it is necessary to observe sanitary and hygienic measures when keeping livestock and when preparing products of animal origin. Pregnant women are recommended as a preventive measure for the period of gestation to exclude from the diet meat and milk that do not have a certificate and have not undergone long-term heat treatment.