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Toxoplasmosis: Why you should be careful about the meat you eat

Team AckoFeb 8, 2024

Toxoplamosis is an infection caused by a parasite named Toxoplasma Gondii. It causes less harm to those people who have a strong immunity system, but pregnant women might be a little prone since it might affect their baby.

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Long term illness in this infection can be glandular fever and swollen lymph nodes. Toxoplasma Gondii is usually found in food products like meat, cat feces, the soil where cats defacate and most importantly, unpasteurised goat’s milk. It can also infect birds and warm-blooded animal including human beings. Cats are the only animal, which can have infected feces, and once it catches the infection by way of eating birds, mice or any other form of raw meat, it's dangerous.

We must remember that this infection is certainly not contagious and doesn’t spread by touching or stroking, it comes only by way of coming in contact with the feces of the infected cat. This infection is a risk to your unborn baby if it is caught for the first time during pregnancy or within a few weeks before you get pregnant. If by any chance the unborn baby is infected then it is known as Congenital Toxoplasmosis. The damage of this infection can be determined to depend on which week you caught this infection. As per analysis, only in about 4 in 10 cases ,the infection passes on to the babies.

Toxoplasmosis can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, damage to the baby’s brain, or any other organs mostly eyes. However, they do not exhibit any damage at birth but develop their symptoms usually of eye damage. Some symptoms include brain damage or even blindness. It is usually caught by swallowing or eating any food infected with this parasite, like uncooked meat, unwashed vegetables or food, and this can be passed on to the baby in several ways. It enters by way of the placenta or human body fluids, or through transplanted organs of another affected human being.

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Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only, based on industry experience and secondary sources. It is not a substitute for professional advice. Please consult a qualified expert for health or insurance-related decisions. Content is subject to change, refer to current policy wordings for specific ACKO details.

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