Toxoplasmosis during pregnancy is dangerous only if a woman has never had a disease before, and she does not have antibodies to toxoplasm. In the case of primary infection with toxoplasmosis during pregnancy, especially in its early stages, there is a real threat of abortion or the birth of a child with congenital malformations.
Symptoms of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women
Toxoplasmosis in pregnant women can be completely asymptomatic. That is why, before the onset of pregnancy and in the first trimester, an analysis is highly desirable for toxoplasmosis, which is part of a comprehensive study of TARC-group infections. Those signs of toxoplasmosis that may appear in pregnant women are nonspecific and are associated with general weakness and fatigue, fever, headache, an increase in lymph nodes. As you can see, these symptoms are typical for common cold, so often a person does not suspect that he suffered such a serious disease.
Chronic toxoplasmosis in pregnancy is characterized by a general infectious syndrome, sometimes signs of involvement of internal organs, central nervous system, eyes or genitals are attached to it. In some severe cases, toplusoplasmosis in pregnant women is accompanied by pain in the muscles and joints, fever, spotted rash.
Diagnosis and treatment of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women
In the laboratory, the determination of blood immunoglobulins takes place. When immunoglobulins of IgM class are detected and there is no IgG, we are talking about a recent infection. This situation is the least favorable. The increase in IgG with a static IgM score during a re-study indicates an acute course of the disease, which you picked up no further than this year. If there is IgG in the blood and there is no IgM, this means that in the past you have already had toxoplasmosis and you have immunity against this disease. If immunoglobulins are not found at all, this indicates that you do not have immunity to the disease and you need to be extremely careful during pregnancy - you need to exclude or minimize communication with pets, use gloves when working in the ground.
In addition to this method, a complex of clinical and paraclinical studies is used. When confirming the current infectious asymptomatic or manifestation process, the question of further action is being decided: whether it will be forced interruption of pregnancy, outpatient treatment or treatment in a gynecological hospital.
Treatment of toxoplasmosis is possible not earlier than the onset of the 12th week and consists of taking etiotropic drugs. In between treatment cycles, folic acid is recommended. Control during treatment is carried out through periodic collection of urine and blood.
How does toxoplasmosis affect pregnancy?
If during pregnancy you become ill with toxoplasmosis, there is a risk of infection of the fetus. Toxoplasma penetrate the child through
If the infection of the fetus occurred in the first trimester, most likely he will die because of vices that are not compatible with life. Infection at a later date is threatened by the fact that the child will be born with severe signs of involvement of the central nervous system, eyes and internal organs.