Cat And Pregnancy: Is It Compatible? What About Toxoplasmosis? What Precautions?
What Is Toxoplasmosis?
Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease. Humans can be infected by handling soil, by eating soiled, undercooked food, by touching a cat or its litter because it can be contaminated by the droppings of this pet.
THE pregnant women are people at risk because, although toxoplasmosis is a generally benign pathology, it is on the other hand at the origin of serious problems may affect the fetus in the case of congenital toxoplasmosis. After birth, the toddler may present:
- A severe eye infection,
- seizures,
- jaundice,
- Hepatosplenomegaly, i.e. an increase in the volume of the liver and spleen.
This parasitic disease that can be transmitted to pregnant women by cats (among others) can also lead to miscarriage.
It is accepted that during the third trimester of pregnancy, the consequences of toxoplasmosis for the future baby are less frequent than during the first semester, but the risks are not completely ruled out. The mother-to-be must therefore continue to take all precautions necessary to limit the risk of contamination.
It should be noted that independently of a situation of pregnancy, this disease also represents a danger in people whose immune system is weakened.
Main Symptoms Of Toxoplasmosis
Symptoms of toxoplasmosis go completely unnoticed in 8 out of 10 cases. When they occur, they may raise suspicion of flu. At most, a pregnant woman may present:
- A moderate rise in body temperature (between 37.5 and barely 38°C),
- Headaches,
- submaxillary lymph nodes,
- occipital ganglia,
- muscle and/or joint pain,
- Fatigue that lasts for more than several weeks,
- A rash all over the body.
The mother-to-be should consult her doctor urgently if she experiences one or more of these manifestations.
Toxoplasmosis, Precautions To Take During Pregnancy
It is by the improperly washed or improperly cooked foods that the risks of being contaminated by toxoplasmosis are the greatest. All pregnant women must therefore take precautions when shopping and preparing their meals, especially if they are not immune to toxoplasmosis.
Preparing Meals And Eating During Pregnancy: Precautions
In order to avoid any contamination by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii responsible for toxoplasmosis, a pregnant woman should take the following precautions:
- Thoroughly wash fruits and vegetables
- Sufficiently cook foods such as meat, fish,
Completely exclude from your diet:
- raw and semi-cooked meat and fish,
- salt-cured charcuterie, smoked or raw,
- undercooked eggs,
- unpasteurized dairy products,
- goat cheeses.
- Do not rub your eyes or touch your face or put your fingers in your mouth after touching food without first washing your hands.
- Wash your hands very carefully and brush nails thoroughly after handling food.
Manage your cat well when you are pregnant, risk of toxoplasmosis obliges
You have to take precautions when you are pregnant and have a cat. Common sense dictates that the following points be observed.
- The mother-to-be should never be in contact with her cat’s droppings. It is essential to wearing gloves to clean the cat’s litter box and basket, a role that can be assigned to another member of the family. The litter box should be run through boiling water very frequently.
- If the litter was previously stored in the immediate vicinity of the place where meals are prepared, it is better to place it further away.
- It is also necessary to avoid all situations which may expose cat scratches like brushing for example. Here again the spouse or the children can support it.
- It is forbidden to adopt a kitten throughout the pregnancy.
- Avoid close proximity to a stray cat as much as possible.
Finally, it is very important, as soon as the pregnancy is confirmed, to take your cat to the veterinarian so that it is subjected to a serology test. This allows you to know if he is a carrier of the parasite in question.
Gardening And Care Of Green Plants
It is strongly recommended that all future mothers who love to garden or take care of their indoor plants always wear gloves before engaging in their favorite occupation. the parasite Toxoplasma gondii grows in the ground. This can therefore also contaminate his cat if he has the habit of scratching the soil from pots, planters and beds.
We understood it well, it is not imperative to part with your cat when you learn that you are expecting a baby. But if one decides to keep it at home, caution is in order, and the rigorous in terms of hygiene and precautions must be flawless. But if keeping her cat at home during pregnancy causes the mother-to-be to feel a sense of guilt or even insurmountable stress, it is highly preferable to entrust your pet for a few months to a trusted person. What matters above all is live your pregnancy peacefully for the proper development of her future baby.
