Is toxoplasmosis contagious or not? Toxoplasmosis: infection routes, diagnosis, prevention

Medicine knows many different diseases that a person can acquire. Some of them occur in the process of life. Others are assigned in the womb of the mother. In this article we will talk about a disease called "toxoplasmosis". Infectious or not he, you will learn further. Also worth mentioning about the symptoms of the disease. An important topic will be that which has toxoplasmosis pathway of infection. Diagnosis, prevention of pathology will be considered below.

What is toxoplasm

Before you learn about the disease of toxoplasmosis (contagious or not), it is worth to find out what kind of pathology. Medicine distinguishes two main forms of the disease: acquired and congenital.

Toxoplasma is a parasite, it can not be called a virus or a bacterium. The owner of this microorganism can be any: man, dog and even earth. However, it can only be transmitted and multiplied in the body of cats.

Symptoms of the disease

Depending on the immunity of a person, signs of the disease manifest themselves in different ways. So, some patients do not know at all that they once suffered toxoplasmosis. For them, he was a common cold. With an easy 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 proceeds more severely. In this case, the patient experiences severe malaise, headache, there is a high body temperature. Complications in the eyes, respiratory organs and heart can also be observed during a severe course of the disease.

Is the disease transmitted

Is toxoplasmosis contagious or not? What does modern medicine say about this? Of course, the parasite has ways of moving. This means that the disease is transmitted. However, some features have toxoplasmosis. Infection from a person does not occur at any contact. Many people believe that the pathology is transmitted through sexual contact. This opinion is erroneous.

The disease has alternative ways of moving. Let us consider them in more detail.

Through contact with cats

Is contagious for toxoplasmosis in cats? Of course, yes. If two animals were in contact with each other, while one of them is in the active stage of the disease, parasite transmission may occur.

Also has toxoplasmosis pathway infection from cat to person. If you stroked a sick animal, then the eggs of the parasite can remain on the palms. Also, the transmission of the disease occurs through the cat's tray. With direct contact with the feces of an animal that is sick, you can easily catch the parasite.

It is worth noting that toxoplasmosis is infectious only a few hours after cat's excrement. Fresh waste of life is not dangerous.

Through the earth and sand

Many children still suffer from this disease at an early age. All because they picked him up while playing in the sandbox. It is worth recalling that the toxoplasmosis pathway of infection from person to person has not. That's why you should not be afraid that your baby will take a parasite from extraneous children.

Affected cats often defecate in sand or earth. After this, active distribution of parasitic eggs begins in this place. If you dig in the contaminated soil and then touch the mucous membranes of your own body, then it may well be infected.

Through animal products

The parasite can penetrate the human body through meat, eggs and milk. Thus, infected animals always give the infected product. Is it worth to give up such a meal forever? Of course, no. After careful heat treatment, the parasite simply dies in most cases.

Infection occurs as follows. The animal takes the eggs of the parasite from the cats (with direct contact or through the ground). After that, the microorganism settles in his body and remains there forever. When you come into contact with an animal, a person can not become infected.

Through the fruits of plants

Is toxoplasmosis contagious, from person to person it is transmitted or not, you already know. And what other methods exist for the transmission of the parasite? Infection can occur through fruits grown on infected land. In this case, do not worry that the microorganisms settled in tubers of potatoes, carrots or pulp of berries. Everything is a little different.

Through the infected ground, the eggs of the parasite get to the surface of fruits and vegetables, but they do not penetrate in any way. If you wash the fruits of plants well before consumption, then the disease does not threaten you.

Through the blood

How else can you "catch" toxoplasmosis? Infection from person to person can take place only with blood transfusion. However, this is only a theory. In medical practice, there are no such cases, since donor blood is always carefully checked and processed.

Intrauterine infection

Is toxoplasmosis contagious or not during pregnancy? If the future mother in any way picked up the parasite, then everything will depend on what term 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 infection occurs in the second and third trimester, then most likely, the baby will stay healthy. However, there is a risk of transmission of the parasite during the birth process (through the blood).

Diagnosis of the disease

There are two main ways to determine the disease: symptomatic and laboratory. The second method is more accurate.

Most often, doctors appoint a patient to take a blood test from a vein. The symptomatic same way can show a very blurry picture. Often, toxoplasmosis can be confused with a common ARI or flu.

The laboratory method of diagnosis determines the presence and amount of antibodies in the human body. It should be noted that a variety of these substances can talk about immunity to a parasite or the presence of a microorganism in the blood.

Preventive measures

You now know what toxoplasmosis is in the way of infection. Diagnosis carried out in a timely manner can confirm or disprove the presence of a parasite in the human body. If a pathology is found, then it is necessary to carry out treatment. However, there are a number of preventive measures, observance of which will help to protect themselves from the parasite. Let us consider them in more detail.

Observance of personal hygiene

To avoid getting toxoplasmosis (infection from cats), you should always wash your hands after contacting the animal and cleaning its tray. Particular danger is represented by pets living on the street. Little children are so fond of caressing cats who have lost their way during a walk. In order not to run home at once and not to wash your palms, you can use a special disinfectant gel. This tool will also help you to protect the 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, greens or any berries. All these products should be thoroughly washed before eating. Only in this case you can get rid of the parasite, which probably lives on the surface of fruits and vegetables.

Wash the food with hot water. Green grass is better to be boiled water before drinking. All root crops must be thoroughly peeled.

Processing of animal products

Food such as meat, eggs and milk must be heat treated before use. Only after careful preparation, these dishes can be eaten. Avoid using raw eggs and unroasted meat with blood. Remember that this can result in infection.

Regular examination

Hand over the analysis on a toxoplasmosis on a regular basis. If once the result showed you the presence of immunity, then you can not worry. You have already recovered, and the parasite to you is absolutely not terrible. When a negative result is found, a person needs to become more attentive to himself. At the slightest suspicion of acquiring a parasite, it is necessary to pass a second analysis and carry out treatment if necessary.

Conclusion

Now you know what toxoplasmosis is and how it is transmitted. Remember about fairly simple methods of diagnosis and use them. Observe preventive measures against the parasite and always be healthy!