Analyzes for toxoplasmosis: normal rates. Danger of toxoplasmosis for pregnant women

Toxoplasmosis is a hidden enemy, which can cause great harm to a pregnant woman and her fetus. In humans, toxoplasmosis manifests itself in different ways. As a rule, the diagnosis of the disease is carried out laboratory. Since the causative agent is quite resistant to the effects of the external environment, it is possible ubiquitous infection. In this article, we will consider such a disease as toxoplasmosis, rate of symptoms, symptoms and ways of treating it.

For your information

Under the threat of infection with this disease in the first place are children, agricultural workers, hunters, villagers, gardeners and gardeners, as well as all those who have cats at home.

Causes

Toxoplasmosis, whose norm parameters are examined below, cause conditionally pathogenic protozoa (toxoplasm), which settle in the cells of the human body. In this case, the pathogen can affect any organ and penetrate any cell, except that only the red blood cells. The main cause of this disease is the infection of the body with protozoa.

Toxoplasmosis: how to determine?

In man in most cases, toxoplasmosis proceeds in a mild and almost imperceptible form. However, symptoms such as general weakness, increased fatigue, low-grade fever, a slight increase in cervical and occipital lymph nodes, and headache may be observed.

The states listed above are observed in the case of a classic cold. Quite often people do not even have a clue that they have been ill with such a disease as toxoplasmosis. The norms of the norm of this ailment make it possible to start treatment in time.

In severe cases, the patients experience joint and muscle pains, spotted rash and fever. It is very dangerous to defeat the nervous system (development of meningoencephalitis). The cat is suspected of toxoplasmosis only if it has a discharge from the nose, redness of the eyes, diarrhea, and an increase in lymph nodes. However, in most cases, both in cats and in humans, the pathological process does not have obvious symptoms.

Pregnancy

Everywhere they say that toxoplasmosis is dangerous in pregnancy. Hence the recommendation to throw away your favorite pet, as well as the experience of any cat scratch. It is important to know that for the developing fetus, the primary risk is the primary infection of the future mother. Accordingly, if you previously had had toxoplasmosis, then this will not have a negative effect on the fetus.

Infection of the fetus with a disease such as toxoplasmosis (the norm values are indicated below) is observed both with primary infection and with the reactivation of the pathogen in the body of seropositive women.

It is worth noting that when a primary infection during pregnancy, the risk for the fetus is 100%. During the first trimester, it is within 15-20%, the second - 30%, the third - 60%. Despite the fact that the risk rises with an increase in the duration of pregnancy, the severity of clinical manifestations decreases. In other words, if a woman in the first trimester is infected with toxoplasmosis, then in most cases the baby develops vices incompatible with life. If the infection occurred by the end of pregnancy, then the pronounced symptoms may be absent altogether.

If the pathogen gets into the mother's body before the 24th week, doctors are advised to interrupt pregnancy. If they refuse to abort, they will offer treatment. In addition, it is necessary to pay attention to the fact that after the disease, there is a strong immunity, so when this meeting is repeated, this parasite will not be dangerous any more.

Transmission paths

In a disease such as toxoplasmosis, the norm is determined by laboratory tests. The following transmission paths are possible:

1. Contact - is associated with sick cats, which are secreted with feces of toxoplasma.
2. Nutritional - is associated with eating poorly processed meat, which contains cysts of the parasite.
3. Parenteral - in this case, the transmission of infection during transplantation of tissues, organs and blood transfusion is not excluded.
4. Transplacental - the penetration of infection into the fetus with the subsequent development in the newborn of toxoplasmosis.

A pregnant woman who has a high index of toxoplasmosis, neither for medical personnel, nor for others, presents an epidemiological danger. This allows the patient to be treated both in a physical hospital and in an outpatient setting.

Pathogenesis

Pathogens emerging from oocysts and cysts penetrate the epithelial cells of the small intestine where reproduction occurs, resulting in the formation of a primary affect. After this parasites penetrate into the regional lymph nodes, and then with the current of the lymph - into the blood.

Spread

Migration of the pathogen can lead to the defeat of various tissues and organs. In conditions of reduced immunity, as well as in pregnancy, in addition to primary infection, it is also dangerous to reactivate the parasite, which determines the course and subsequent outcome of pregnancy.

When exiting the cysts, the pathogen spreads. In tissues, its concentration is associated with the ability to penetrate transplacentally, which can provoke the development of intrauterine pathology at any term of pregnancy.

Toxoplasmosis: Diagnosis

The causative agent can be determined in the body only by the presence of antibodies in the blood. This disease can not be identified in any other way, since toxoplasma is hidden inside other cells. As mentioned earlier, the incubation period of toxoplasmosis is practically asymptomatic. The simplest, for example, can be found in muscles, brain, spleen, liver and lymph nodes.

Thus, it is possible to take the material for analysis only surgically. When a lumbar puncture is done with meningoencephalitis, the cerebrospinal fluid is examined for toxoplasm on a mandatory basis.

Treatment

Due to the fact that the incubation period of toxoplasmosis proceeds in most cases is asymptomatic, in the early stages it is difficult to detect. Therefore, treatment of this disease for a long time - 2 courses with immune correction (mandatory). The first course is 10 days, after a similar break, and again the therapy is repeated (21 days - in especially difficult cases).

Ocular toxoplasmosis is very serious. Diagnosis in this case should be as accurate as possible, since the disease can be confused with tuberculosis. Therapy is carried out under the strict supervision of the phthisiatrician. With lesions of the brain and eyes, toxoplasmosis is treated only permanently. The hospital will have to stay at least a month. After the treatment, repeated laboratory tests are required .

Indicators of the norm

The presence of antibodies of IgM type in the normal state is completely excluded. If, as a result of the tests, they were identified, then it is about infecting with an infection such as toxoplasmosis. IgG antibodies found in the blood indicate that the body was once infected with the infection, and the time frame can be stretched to 10 years.

The best option is if none of these types of antibodies are present in the blood. Only in this case it will be possible to say with certainty that the body has never had an infection, and at the specific moment it is also absent. However, this means that the woman has absolutely no immunity to the disease, which would help to avoid infection. I'll have to work hard not to get infected with such a disease. If IgG toxoplasmosis was detected, and IgM is absent, then a woman once encountered an infection, but at the moment she does not face it. And most importantly, the immunity has already developed, and therefore the possibility of repeated infection is minimal.

According to statistics, this situation is the most common. Thus, in the case of a disease called toxoplasmosis, the norm is the presence of IgG and the absence of IgM.

If IgM antibodies were found in the blood, and the IgG type is completely absent, then we are talking about a recent infection in the absence of immunity. This is what creates a threat to the child and his mother.

If both antibodies were detected , this indicates that the body has been infected for a long time. After 2-3 weeks, the expert will repeatedly ask you to donate blood for toxoplasmosis.

Analyzes

That the development of this disease does not proceed actively, as well as to prevent the danger threatening the future child, it is necessary to make a special examination for infection. It is desirable to determine the index of toxoplasmosis either during pregnancy planning, or at its early stages. Do not be afraid of treating such a pathology - if you turn to specialists in a timely manner, then it happens with minimal risk for the child.

With a disease such as toxoplasmosis, blood counts are fundamental, as bacteria are found in internal organs. The number of antibodies, which is produced by the body, is analyzed. In addition, it is determined how long the infection has been introduced into the body, as well as the toxoplasmosis itself is dangerous for a person. Laboratory indicators do not always allow to determine the exact picture of the disease, therefore, after 2-3 weeks a repeated test is appointed.

Sometimes toxoplasmosis can be diagnosed by means of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR). It is important to note that this method is considered inaccurate, because it can not determine the period when the infection occurred.

If the pregnancy has been confirmed infection, you should conduct a similar analysis for the baby. In most cases, amniocentesis (a sample of amniotic fluid) is used for these purposes. To determine whether the spleen or liver is enlarged, the intracranial calcification and the ventricles of the brain are in a normal state, and ultrasound can be performed.

Danger during pregnancy

Most women do not even realize that they could endure this disease. Since the disease often occurs in a latent form, it guarantees the formation of immunity in the body. If you belong to these women, then you are lucky - if you become infected during pregnancy, there will be no risk for the fetus.

If you are infected for the first time, the child can be very seriously affected, especially during the third trimester. Nevertheless, it is better not to change your way of life, throw out a pet, refuse to consume meat. Try to live a full life, but limit contact with animals, and also watch the degree of readiness of dishes from meat. If the state of health worsens, consult a specialist, only he will be able to determine the indices of chronic toxoplasmosis.

There are some precautions that prevent this infection. Let us consider them in more detail.

Prevention

Nonspecific prophylaxis of this infection is possible. Try to exclude semi-finished products, observe hygiene rules, wash your hands more often, buy meat and minced meat in trusted shops, carefully process vegetables and fruits. If the house has a cat, you should use special fillers and clean the tray regularly.

Women who plan pregnancy, even before conception, must pass tests for toxoplasmosis. How to determine the presence of this infection, was said above. If the result is negative, then during pregnancy, the expectant mother is very important to take tests every 3 months.

If there are pets in the house, they should also be carefully examined. It is recommended to carry out regular disinfection of the cat's toilet. If the pet is sick, no matter how sad it is, you will have to get rid of it. To save your beloved cat, do not let him go alone, do not give raw meat, do not let him hunt for birds and mice. Also, it is not recommended for pregnant women to contact other people's pets, strangers, and to iron the homeless cats.

All these measures will help to some extent prevent this disease. In most cases, our health depends on ourselves.