“So what do you do if you already have a cat? Number one, ensure that another person changes the cat litter, if possible.
“Number two, change the cat’s litter daily because it takes about one to five days before a cat litter becomes infectious to a human being.”
Toxoplasmosis is a flu-like disease caused by a single-celled parasite called Toxoplasma gondii.
It develops inside cats and can infect other animals or humans.
According to an online health portal, Healthline, a pregnant woman that develops the infection can pass it to the foetus through the placenta, noting that this can lead to serious birth defects.
The health portal, however, stated that people infected with toxoplasmosis are not contagious and this includes young children and babies infected before birth. It also noted that there are treatment options for a pregnant woman that develops the disease.
“Toxoplasma infection during pregnancy can be serious because the parasite can cross the placenta and infect the baby. An infected baby may suffer damage to the eye, brain, heart, lungs. The mother is also at increased risk for miscarriage if she has a recent toxoplasmosis infection.
“Some babies show signs of infection on an ultrasound. Your doctor may notice abnormalities in the brain and less commonly in the liver. Toxoplasmosis cysts can be found in the baby’s organs after the infection develops.
“The most serious damage occurs from nervous system infection. This can include damage to the baby’s brain and eyes, either in the womb or after birth. It may cause visual impairment or blindness, intellectual disability, and developmental delay,” it stated.
Source: HealthWise
