Listeria in pregnancy: what is it and what are the risks to the fetus?

0
- Advertisement -

La listeria in pregnancy represents a threat to expectant mothers, but with a few small tricks and pay attention to the types of food included in the diet for the 9 months before childbirth, you can rest assured and live the moment in all serenity. Let's try to understand better what it is and how to go about it avoid getting the infection.

Listeria in pregnancy: what is it?

La Listeria is a infectious disease caused by a bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. This bacterium is far from rare: it is found inwater, in land, in fruit and vegetables, but also in milk (and therefore in cheeses), in raw meat And in the seafood. Its presence is also easy to detect on kitchen utensils, cabinets and refrigerators.
In healthy people, the infection often goes unnoticed, but in pregnant women, the elderly, the sick and infants it can have serious consequences. Why? In the case of pregnancy, bacteria can cross the placental barrier and therefore reach the fetus, making the continuation of pregnancy very dangerous.

listeria in pregnancy: symptoms© IStock

What are the symptoms of listeria in pregnancy?

When contamination from listeria in pregnancy manifests itself with symptoms of nasopharyngitis accompanied by fever. Furthermore also headachestiff neck severe fatigue and unusual may be the first symptoms. The most severe evolution of the disease involves the meningitis or encephalitis in people who are predisposed to it.
If in doubt or if you have one fever above 38 ° C, you should consult your doctor or gynecologist who will establish the diagnosis by isolating the bacteria in the blood (through blood culture) or sometimes in the urine.
If the bacterium is detected in your body, you will be given a antibiotic treatment specific (a combination of ampicillin and gentamicin) for a fortnight. If infection is proven, the treatment will be continued until the end of the pregnancy. Successful treatment depends on early management of the infection.

- Advertisement -

 

- Advertisement -
listeria in pregnancy: what are the risks© GettyImages

Listeria in pregnancy: what are the risks?

Behind the benign appearance of the listeria in pregnancy, there can be serious consequences for the baby in some very serious cases: listeria can lead to stillbirth (miscarriage) or premature birth. If the pregnancy is carried to term, the baby may develop sepsis or one meningitis within a few days of birth. There may also be an infection in the newborn with breathing difficulties associated with cutaneous or neurological signs. In all these cases the child will have to be particularly monitored.


Foods to avoid to avoid contracting listeria in pregnancy

 

  • Raw milk cheeses, blue cheeses (Bleu, Roquefort…), cheeses with a floral rind (Camembert, Brie…). Avoid eating the cheese rind.
  • Salad and raw vegetables in a bag.
  • Parsley and herbs are vectors of the disease when eaten raw.
  • Sprouted seeds.
  • Raw meats and salami. Avoid sliced ​​charcuterie and once you open the package, eat the products quickly.
  • Raw fish such as sushi, sashimi, roll.
  • Crustaceans, and shellfish products (smoked fish, surimi).
  • Raw shellfish (oysters).
Listeria in pregnancy: pay attention to cheeses© GettyImages

Listeria in pregnancy: other precautions to take

 

  • Always reheat cooked dishes and food leftovers because the germ is destroyed at 100 ° C.
  • Wash your hands and clean kitchen utensils after handling raw foods.
  • Clean the refrigerator twice a month and disinfect it with bleached water and a new sponge. The temperature inside should remain around 4 ° C.
  • Carefully cook raw foods of animal origin (bacon, meat, fish, etc.).
  • Thoroughly wash raw vegetables and herbs or eat them preferably cooked.
  • Consume the food on the day of opening the package.
  • Be careful when eating away from home.

 

listeria in pregnancy and toxoplasmosis© IStock

Difference between toxoplasmosis and listeria in pregnancy

La Listeria , toxoplasmosis both are very common infections that are not dangerous to healthy individuals at all. The problem arises when the person who contract one of the two diseases is already debilitated or is pregnant. Everything comes from bacteria commonly found in fruit, vegetables, soil, as well as raw meat and unpasteurized milk.
The bacterium of listeria in fact, tends to be present mainly in cheeses, read our article to learn more: risks and dangers of stracchino in pregnancy.
In reverse the bacterium of toxoplasmosis mainly affects the raw meat and cold cuts. Again we have written articles to better understand the issue and be prepared.

Article source Alfeminile

- Advertisement -
Previous articleVenice Film Festival 2020: the trendiest jewels
Next articleSuper Mario: the animated film arrives!
MusaNews editorial staff
This section of our Magazine also deals with the sharing of the most interesting, beautiful and relevant articles edited by other Blogs and by the most important and renowned Magazines on the web and which have allowed sharing by leaving their feeds open to exchange. This is done for free and non-profit but with the sole intention of sharing the value of the contents expressed in the web community. So… why still write on topics like fashion? The make-up? The gossip? Aesthetics, beauty and sex? Or more? Because when women and their inspiration do it, everything takes on a new vision, a new direction, a new irony. Everything changes and everything lights up with new shades and shades, because the female universe is a huge palette with infinite and always new colors! A wittier, more subtle, sensitive, more beautiful intelligence ... ... and beauty will save the world!