Medicine knows many different diseases that a person can acquire. Some of them are found in the process of life. Others are assigned even in the womb. This article will focus on a disease called “toxoplasmosis.” Whether it is contagious or not, you will learn further. It is also worth mentioning the symptoms of the disease. An important topic will be what kind of toxoplasmosis infection routes have. Diagnosis, prevention of pathology will be discussed below.
What is toxoplasma?
Before you learn about the disease of toxoplasmosis (infectious or not), it is worth finding out what kind of pathology it is. Medicine distinguishes between two main forms of the disease: acquired and congenital.
Toxoplasma is a parasite, it can not be called a virus or a bacterium. The host of this microorganism can be anyone: a person, a dog, and even the earth. However, it can be transmitted and propagated only in the body of cats.
Symptoms of the disease
Depending on the human immunity, the symptoms of the disease appear in different ways. So, some patients do not know at all that they once suffered a toxoplasmosis. For them, he was a common cold. With a mild course of pathology, a person can note weakness, a slight increase in temperature and an increase in lymph nodes.
If the immune defense is reduced, then the disease is more severe. In this case, the patient experiences severe malaise, headache, and there is a high body temperature. Also, with a severe course of the disease, complications can be observed in the eyes, respiratory organs and heart.
Is the disease transmitted
Toxoplasmosis is contagious or not? What does modern medicine say about this? Of course, the parasite has ways to move. This means that the disease is transmitted. However, toxoplasmosis has some features. Infection from a person does not occur at any contact. Many people believe that pathology is transmitted through sexual contact. This opinion is erroneous.
The disease has alternative routes of movement. Let's consider them in more detail.
Through contact with cats
Is toxoplasmosis contagious in cats? Of course, yes. If two animals contacted each other, while one of them is in the active stage of the disease, transmission of the parasite may occur.
Also has toxoplasmosis infection paths from cats to humans. If you stroked a sick animal, then parasite eggs may remain on the palms. Also, the transmission of the disease occurs through the cat tray. In direct contact with the feces of an animal that is sick, you may well catch a parasite.
It is worth noting that toxoplasmosis is contagious only a few hours after cat feces. Fresh waste products do not carry any danger.
Through land and sand
Many children still have this disease at an early age. All because they caught him while playing in the sandbox. It is worth recalling that toxoplasmosis does not have a pathway of infection from person to person. That is why you should not be afraid that your baby will take the parasite from strangers.
Sick cats often defecate in sand or land. After that, in this place begins the active spread of parasitic eggs. If you delve into the infected soil and after that touch the mucous membranes of your own body, then infection may well occur.
Through animal products
The parasite can enter the human body through meat, eggs and milk. So, infected animals always give an infected product. Should I refuse such food forever? Of course not. After thorough heat treatment, the parasite in most cases simply dies.
Infection occurs as follows. The animal receives parasite eggs from cats (through direct contact or through the ground). After that, the microorganism settles in his body and remains there forever. In contact with animals, humans cannot become infected.
Through the fruits of plants
Whether toxoplasmosis is contagious, whether it is transmitted from person to person or not, you already know. And what other methods of transmission of the parasite exist? Infection can occur through fruits grown on contaminated land. At the same time, you should not worry that microorganisms settled in the tubers of potatoes, carrots or pulp of berries. Everything is a little different.
Through the infected ground, the parasite's eggs fall on the surface of fruits and vegetables, but do not penetrate in any way. If you wash the fruits of plants well before use, then the development of the disease does not threaten you.
Through the blood
How else can you "catch" toxoplasmosis? Infection from person to person can only occur with a blood transfusion. However, this is only a theory. In medical practice, such cases do not occur, since the blood of the donor is always carefully checked and undergoes processing.
Intrauterine infection
Toxoplasmosis is contagious or not during pregnancy? If the expectant mother in any way picked up the parasite, then everything will depend on how long it happened. In the first trimester of pregnancy, there is a high probability of infection of the fetus. On average, it reaches 60 percent. If the infection happened in the second and third trimester, then, most likely, the future baby will remain healthy. However, the risk of transmission of the parasite during the birth process (through the blood) remains.
Diagnosis of the disease
There are two main ways to determine the disease: symptomatic and laboratory. In this case, the second method is more accurate.
Most often, doctors prescribe the patient to take a blood test from a vein. The symptomatic method can show a very blurry picture. Often, toxoplasmosis can be confused with the usual ARI or the flu.
With a laboratory diagnostic method, the presence and amount of antibodies in the human body is determined. It is worth noting that a variety of these substances may indicate immunity to the parasite or the presence of a microorganism in the blood.
Preventative measures
You now know which toxoplasmosis infection routes have. Diagnostics carried out in a timely manner can confirm or refute the presence of the parasite in the human body. If pathology is detected, then treatment must be carried out. However, there are a number of preventive measures, the observance of which will help protect yourself from the parasite. Let's consider them in more detail.
Personal hygiene
In order not to get Toxoplasmosis disease (infection from cats), you must always wash your hands after contact with the animal and cleaning its tray. Pets living on the street are especially dangerous. Young children love to pet cats that have strayed during a walk. In order not to run straight home and not to wash your hands, you can use a special disinfectant gel. This tool will also help you protect your child after playing in the sandbox. Do not forget that toys also have contact with sand and earth. They need to be washed after each walk.
Thorough cleansing of fruits
Everyone uses the fruits of plants. It can be potatoes, apples, herbs or any berries. All these products must be washed thoroughly before eating. Only in this case you can get rid of the parasite, which may live on the surface of fruits and vegetables.
You need to wash products with hot water. It is better to sprinkle greens with boiling water before use. All root crops must undergo a thorough peeling.
Animal Product Processing
Foods such as meat, eggs, and milk must be cooked before use. Only after thorough preparation can you eat these dishes. Avoid eating raw eggs and raw meat with blood. Remember that this may result in infection.
Regular examination
Get tested for toxoplasmosis regularly. If once the result showed you the presence of immunity, then you can not worry. You have already been ill, and the parasite is absolutely not terrible to you. When a negative result is discovered, a person needs to become more attentive to himself. At the slightest suspicion of acquiring a parasite, it is worth passing a re-analysis and treatment if necessary.
Conclusion
Now you know what toxoplasmosis is and how it is transmitted. Remember the fairly simple diagnostic methods and use them. Follow preventive measures to combat the parasite and always be healthy!