The treatment of toxoplasmosis in pregnancy, an infection caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii , which is found in raw or undercooked meat, in soil contaminated with animal feces and in cat feces, can be done with antibiotic remedies as follows:
- Spiramycin for pregnant women with suspected contamination or who were infected during pregnancy, whatever the gestational age, to reduce the risk of contaminating the baby; Sulfadiazine, Pyrimethamine and Folinic Acid, from 18 weeks of gestation, if there is confirmation that the baby is infected, which can be done through cordocentesis, in which a blood sample is taken from the umbilical cord. If the baby is infected, the pregnant woman should take this cocktail of medicines for 3 consecutive weeks, alternating with Spiramycin for another 3 weeks until the end of the pregnancy, with the exception of Sulfadiazine, which should only be taken until the 34th week of pregnancy.
If the pregnant woman who was infected during pregnancy is undergoing treatment with Spiramycin and it is confirmed that the baby is not infected, the pregnant woman should continue to take Spiramycin until the end of the pregnancy.
The obstetrician who accompanies the pregnancy is the one who must indicate the appropriate treatment for the pregnant woman.
Pregnant women who already had toxoplasmosis before pregnancy have already developed immunity against the disease parasite, that is, there is no risk of infecting the baby, but toxoplasmosis in pregnancy can be transmitted to the baby when the pregnant woman is infected for the first time during pregnancy. pregnancy, which can cause miscarriage, fetal death, mental retardation, epilepsy, eye injuries that can lead to blindness in the baby, deafness or brain damage.
If the baby is contaminated during pregnancy and develops congenital toxoplasmosis, it can be born without presenting manifestations of the disease. after birth, for about 12 months.
Side effects of treatment
Side effects of treatment for toxoplasmosis in pregnancy include diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, abdominal cramps, sore throat, muscle pain, headache, skin rashes, poor appetite, insomnia, thrush and anemia.
To help treat diarrhea, a good option is Yakult, as this yogurt contains probiotics that help to normalize the intestine, as well as Lactipan, a medicine that also helps to regulate the intestine and reduce diarrhea, however the latter only should be used under the guidance of the obstetrician. In addition, the pregnant woman should increase her water intake and drink coconut water, especially if she is also vomiting, so as not to dehydrate.
To help relieve headaches, the pregnant woman can put a cold water compress on her forehead and, for muscle pain, take a bath with hot water to relax her muscles. For thrush and sore throats, a great tip is to gargle with warm water and salt, as salt helps to heal thrush and relieve inflammation and sore throat.
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