Toxoplasmosis (tok-so-plaz-MOE-sis) is a disease that results from infection with the Toxoplasma gondii parasite, one of the world's most common parasites. Infection usually occurs by eating undercooked contaminated meat, exposure from infected cat feces, or mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy.

Toxoplasmosis may cause flu-like symptoms in some people, but most people affected never develop signs and symptoms. For infants born to infected mothers and for people with weakened immune systems, toxoplasmosis may cause serious complications.

If you're generally healthy, not pregnant, and have been diagnosed with toxoplasmosis, you probably won't need any treatment other than conservative management. If you're pregnant or have lowered immunity, you may need medical management to avoid severe complications. The best approach, though, is prevention

With rare exception, women who have been infected at least 6-9 months before conception develop immunity to toxoplasmosis and do not pass it on to their baby.

Toxoplasmosis during pregnancy is an infection caused by a parasite known as Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii). This single-celled organism is commonly found throughout the world and tends to infect birds and mammals.

In most cases of animal and human infection, toxoplasmosis does not cause any symptoms. The only evidence of infection is the detection of antibodies in the blood against the toxoplasmosis parasite.

Symptoms, if they do occur, include:
1. Swollen lymph glands, especially around the neck
2. Muscle aches and pains
3. Headache
4. Fever
5. Generally feeling unwell
6. Inflammation of the lungs
7. Inflammation of the heart muscle
8. Inflammation of the eye, for example, the retina and at the back of the eye
9. If newborn babies are infected, at worst, they will only suffer from a mild illness. However, toxoplasmosis in pregnancy can expose babies in the womb to the parasite and this is potentially more serious.
10. If a woman contracts toxoplasmosis for the first time while pregnant, the parasites may affect the baby through the placenta.

Most unborn babies aren’t affected at all, but a minority may be harmed by infection. Effects of toxoplasmosis on unborn babies can include:
1. Skin rashes
2. Nervous system damage
3. Mental retardation
4. Cerebral calcification (hardening of brain tissue)
5. Liver damage
6. Eye problems
7. Fetal death

Symptoms
Mostly asymptomatic,In other cases- mild flu-like symptoms, such as high temperature, sore throat and aching muscles
Conditions
A common parasitic infection that can rarely lead to Miscarriage
Drugs
Antibiotics like spiramycin and sulphonamide may be prescribed to try to reduce the risk of mother‐to‐child transmission, and to reduce the severity of infection in the baby

Toxoplasmosis during pregnancy is caused due to various factors.

1. Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by a parasite known as Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii). This single-celled organism is commonly found throughout the world and tends to infect birds and mammals. The parasite forms egg-like structures called oocysts. They are ingested by mouth, which means the infection cannot be transferred from person to person.

2. Humans become infected with the toxoplasmosis parasite through contact with infected animal feces. Cats are the main hosts. They acquire T. gondii from eating infected rodents or birds and then may pass the infection to their human handlers.

3. Another way of catching this infection is touching or eating raw or undercooked lamb, pork or kangaroo meat. The parasites can be stored in small pockets (cysts) in the muscle tissue of these meats.

4. Drinking contaminated unpasteurized milk can also cause infection with toxoplasmosis parasites.

5. Toxoplasmosis may cause flu-like symptoms in some people, but most people affected never develop signs and symptoms. For infants born to infected mothers and for people with weakened immune systems, toxoplasmosis may cause serious complications.

6. Toxoplasmosis is more likely to cause problems in people whose immune systems have weaker immune systems or of a health problem like HIV or some types of cancer and cancer treatments.

7. It also can be harmful to babies as they develop in the womb (a pregnant woman can pass it to her baby).

Symptoms
Mostly asymptomatic,In other cases- mild flu-like symptoms, such as high temperature, sore throat and aching muscles
Conditions
A common parasitic infection that can rarely lead to miscarriage
Drugs
Antibiotics like spiramycin and sulphonamide may be prescribed to try to reduce the risk of mother‐to‐child transmission, and to reduce the severity of infection in the baby

Most healthy people with toxoplasmosis during pregnancy don't require toxoplasmosis treatment. But if you're otherwise healthy and have signs and symptoms of acute toxoplasmosis, your doctor may prescribe the following drugs:

1. Pyrimethamine (Daraprim): This medication, typically used for malaria, is a folic acid antagonist. It may prevent your body from absorbing the B vitamin folate (folic acid, vitamin B-9), especially when you take high doses over a long period. For that reason, your doctor may recommend taking additional folic acid.
Other potential side effects of pyrimethamine include bone marrow suppression and liver toxicity.
2. Sulfadiazine: This antibiotic is used with pyrimethamine to treat toxoplasmosis.

Treating people with HIV/AIDS
1. If you have HIV/AIDS, the treatment of choice for toxoplasmosis is also pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine, with folinic acid (leucovorin).
2. An alternative is pyrimethamine taken with clindamycin (Cleocin).

Treating pregnant women and babies
1. If you're pregnant and infected with toxoplasmosis, treatment may vary depending on where you receive medical care.
2. If infection occurred before the 16th week of pregnancy, you may receive the antibiotic spiramycin. The use of this drug may reduce your baby's risk of neurological problems from congenital toxoplasmosis. Spiramycin is routinely used to treat toxoplasmosis in Europe but is still considered experimental in the United States.
3. If infection occurred after the 16th week of pregnancy, or if tests show that your unborn child has toxoplasmosis, you may be given pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine, and folinic acid (leucovorin). Your doctor will help you determine the optimal treatment.
4. If your infant has toxoplasmosis or is likely to have it, treatment with pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine and folinic acid (leucovorin) is recommended. Your pediatrician will need to monitor your baby while he or she is taking these medications.

Symptoms
Mostly asymptomatic,In other cases- mild flu-like symptoms, such as high temperature, sore throat and aching muscles
Conditions
A common parasitic infection that can rarely lead to miscarriage
Drugs
Antibiotics like spiramycin and sulphonamide may be prescribed to try to reduce the risk of mother‐to‐child transmission, and to reduce the severity of infection in the baby

Toxoplasmosis is caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii.

Prevalence and risk factors:
1. In the United States, it is estimated that 11% of the population 6 years and older have been infected with Toxoplasma.
2. In various places throughout the world, it has been shown that more than 60% of some populations have been infected with Toxoplasma.
3. Infection is often highest in areas of the world that have hot, humid climates and lower altitudes because the oocysts survive better in these types of environments.
4. Toxoplasmosis is not passed from person to person, except in instances of mother-to-child (congenital) transmission and blood transfusion or organ transplantation.

Other potential risk factors of getting infected with Toxoplasmosis during pregnancy:
1. Owning a cat
2. Cleaning a litter box
3. Eating raw or undercooked pork, mutton, lamb, beef, or minced-meat products
4. Gardening
5. Eating raw or unwashed vegetables or fruits
6. Eating raw vegetables outside of the home
7. Coming into contact with soil
8. Washing kitchen knives infrequently
9. Having poor hand hygiene
10. Traveling outside of Europe, Canada, or the United States
11. Drinking unpurified water from a contaminated source

Symptoms
Mostly asymptomatic,In other cases- mild flu-like symptoms, such as high temperature, sore throat and aching muscles
Conditions
A common parasitic infection that can rarely lead to miscarriage
Drugs
Antibiotics like spiramycin and sulphonamide may be prescribed to try to reduce the risk of mother‐to‐child transmission, and to reduce the severity of infection in the baby

Most healthy people don't require toxoplasmosis treatment. But if you're otherwise healthy and have signs and symptoms of acute toxoplasmosis during pregnancy, your doctor may prescribe the following drugs:

1. Pyrimethamine (Daraprim): This medication, typically used for malaria, is a folic acid antagonist. It may prevent your body from absorbing the B vitamin folate (folic acid, vitamin B-9), especially when you take high doses over a long period. For that reason, your doctor may recommend taking additional folic acid.
Other potential side effects of pyrimethamine include bone marrow suppression and liver toxicity.
2. Sulfadiazine: This antibiotic is used with pyrimethamine to treat toxoplasmosis.
3. If you have HIV/AIDS, the treatment of choice for toxoplasmosis is also pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine, with folinic acid (leucovorin). An alternative is a pyrimethamine taken with clindamycin (Cleocin).
4. If you're pregnant and infected with toxoplasmosis, treatment may vary depending on where you receive medical care.
5. If infection occurred before the 16th week of pregnancy, you may receive the antibiotic spiramycin. The use of this drug may reduce your baby's risk of neurological problems from congenital toxoplasmosis. Spiramycin is routinely used to treat toxoplasmosis in Europe, but is still considered experimental in the United States.
6. If infection occurred after the 16th week of pregnancy, or if tests show that your unborn child has toxoplasmosis, you may be given pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine and folinic acid (leucovorin). Your doctor will help you determine the optimal treatment.
7. If your infant has toxoplasmosis or is likely to have it, treatment with pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine, and folinic acid (leucovorin) is recommended. Your pediatrician will need to monitor your baby while he or she is taking these medications.

Symptoms
Mostly asymptomatic,In other cases- mild flu-like symptoms, such as high temperature, sore throat and aching muscles
Conditions
A common parasitic infection that can rarely lead to miscarriage
Drugs
Antibiotics like spiramycin and sulphonamide may be prescribed to try to reduce the risk of mother‐to‐child transmission, and to reduce the severity of infection in the baby