john@masscomp.UUCP (John Sundman) (12/05/84)
I recently posted an announcement about a Toxoplasmosis Support Group. Several respondents asked for some more information about the disease. Accordingly, I'm reproducing here a short piece from the September 1984 Better Homes and Gardens. My editorial comments and further references appear below. Pregnancy Caution If you are pregnant, take special precautions to avoid a parasitic disease known as toxoplasmosis. Anyone, pregnant or not can get "toxo." But if acquired during pregnancy the disease can cause spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, or serious birth defects. People risk infection when they come into contact with the feces of infected house cats or eat undercooked meat. Cats acquire the disease by eating parasite-ridden meat such as mice or birds. Humans may come infected when cleaning a litter box or gardening. Symptoms may be so negligible that a mother-to-be may not notice them. Or she may have swollen glands, fatigue, muscle pain, and other "mono"-like symptoms lasting two weeks or more. Even if the disorder is detected, drugs which normally are used to treat the condition may harm the unborn child. Fortunately, toxoplasmosis is easy to prevent. If you are pregnant (or even if you're not), be sure to eat only well-cooked meat and wash your hands after handling raw meat. If you are pregnant and own a cat, feed your cat only well-cooked meat or commercial cat food. Keep your cat inside to prevent it from eating mice and birds. Wash your hands after handling the pet, and have someone else change the litter daily. Toxoplasmosis is not a widespread disorder. Still, pregnant women should take precautions that you own a cat, and don't get a new cat during pregnancy. For a free new brochure with more information, write: Toxoplasmosis, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Building 31, Room 7A32, Bethesda MD 20205. Comments: My first comment I cannot make too emphatically: If your child is born prematurely, insist on a blood test to see if toxo is present. The test can be done on the placenta or umbilical cord at no pain to mother or child. Blood test on the child requires only a small amount of blood. If you doctor is skeptical, yell, scream, etc. If you don't like to raise your voice, whisper "malpractice." 0) Toxo is easier to get and more widespread than the article implies. Experts believe that lots of mild cases go undiagnosed. If you are pregnant, PLEASE BE CAREFUL !!! 1) Cat saliva, as well as cat feces, can contain the parasite. It is therefore dangerous for pregnant women to even pet a cat. 2) All types of raw and undercooked meat are dangerous: Lamb (especially), beef, pork, poultry. Raw eggs also. (None of the cases we know of are thought to have been caused by cats). 3) Toxo symptoms may be mild, or hard to spot in the infant as well as in the mother. For example toxo was the cause of the following in our son, but it took a year to diagnose: a) premature birth b) weak appetite at birth c) inability to maintain body heat d) farsightedness e) crossed eyes f) susceptibility to respiratory infections, especially pneumonia g) constipation h) "failure to thrive" syndrome: seriously underweight no appetite, uninvolved with social environment i) developmental delays -- late to smile, sit reach for things, etc. Other symptoms include hydrocephaly, rash, motor impairment, and others. 4) While generally mild in adults, toxo can can occasionally cause blindness, brain damage or death. If blood tests show that you've had it, have periodic follow-ups to make sure it hasn't resurfaced. 5) If your child is born with toxoplasmosis, you have no choice but become fully involved with his or her therapy. Insist that doctors explain their reasoning to you. If doctors intimidate you get an ombudsman to accompany you. Demand references. Disregard any out-of-date therapy. (Therapies more than a month or two old are possibly out of date). Further References: The most extensive review of current thinking about toxo is a 170 page article in the book "Infectious Diseases of the Fetus and Newborn Infant," W. B. Saunders Inc, Philadelphia. The article contains an extensive bibliography. Shorter descriptions are available from the March of Dimes and from the Center for Disease Control, Atlanta. I keep a bibliography of technical articles, just drop me a note and I'll supply references. John Sundman