Toxoplasmosis: symptoms, risks in pregnancy, treatment and prevention

The NHS says toxoplasmosis does not usually cause any symptoms and most people do not know they have had it. Some people may have flu-like symptoms, and some may have more serious symptoms.

In people with a weakened immune system, the NHS says toxoplasmosis may cause problems with the eyes, brain, heart or lungs.

• Flu-like symptoms listed by the NHS: high temperature, headache, sore throat, aching body, swollen glands, feeling tired, and feeling or being sick.

• More serious symptoms listed by the NHS: confusion, blurred vision, slurred speech and unsteady walking.

• In people with a weakened immune system: possible problems with the eyes, brain, heart or lungs.

The NHS describes toxoplasmosis as a common infection that you can catch from the poo of infected cats or from infected meat, and says it is usually harmless but can cause serious problems in some people. The UK National Screening Committee describes it as an infection caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which can be caught by eating food contaminated with the parasite, including uncooked meat or unpasteurised milk.

The NHS adds that you can also catch it from soil that has been contaminated by cat poo. It says toxoplasmosis is not usually serious and normally gets better on its own, and the concern is for people who are pregnant or have a weakened immune system.

The NHS advises asking for an urgent GP appointment or getting help from NHS 111 if you are pregnant or have a weakened immune system and have any symptoms of toxoplasmosis, if you have blurred vision, or if you have difficulty walking. If you are pregnant you can also call your midwife for advice.

It says to go to A&E or call 999 if you or someone else suddenly gets confused or has slurred speech. In that situation the NHS says not to drive to A&E; ask someone to drive you or call 999 for an ambulance, and bring any medicines you take.

The NHS says a GP may do blood tests to see if you have been infected, and can prescribe medicines to treat the infection if necessary. Most people who get toxoplasmosis get better without treatment.

However, you will usually be given medicines, including antibiotics, if you are pregnant, if you have a weakened immune system (for example, if you take immunosuppressant medicines or have HIV), or if you have symptoms affecting your eyes. Newborn babies with toxoplasmosis are also treated with antibiotics and sometimes other medicines to treat the symptoms, and people who are seriously ill may need treatment in hospital.

The NHS says that if you get toxoplasmosis while you are pregnant it can cause miscarriage, and that if it spreads to your baby it can cause serious complications. If you are pregnant and test positive, the NHS says your GP can refer you for more tests to see if your baby has been infected, which it describes as very rare. It advises asking for an urgent GP appointment or help from NHS 111 if you are pregnant and have any symptoms, and says you can also call your midwife for advice.

The UK National Screening Committee does not recommend screening pregnant women. Its stated reasons are that the screening test would incorrectly show that toxoplasmosis is present in many women, that it is not known if the current treatment (antibiotics) would stop the infection being passed to the baby or reduce its severity, and that there is not enough information about how many people might get the infection in the UK. The recommendation is based on a review in August 2016.

Because of this, the practical focus in pregnancy is prevention, using the measures the NHS lists below.

The NHS lists a short set of habits for pregnant women and people with weakened immunity. They are inexpensive and mostly about hygiene and cooking.

• Wear gloves while gardening and wash your hands thoroughly afterwards.

• Wash your hands before preparing food and eating, and after handling raw meat, along with knives and chopping boards.

• Wash fruit and vegetables thoroughly to remove traces of soil.

• Cook meat thoroughly, especially lamb, pork and venison.

• Avoid cat poo in litter trays and soil if you can, wearing gloves and washing your hands afterwards if you must empty a tray.

• Do not eat raw or undercooked meat, or cured meats such as salami or Parma ham.

• Do not have unpasteurised goats’ milk or products made from it, do not touch pregnant sheep or lambs, and do not feed cats raw or undercooked meat.

The NHS says most people get better without treatment, and that you cannot catch toxoplasmosis from stroking a cat or having a cat as a pet, so having had the infection does not mean you need to give up a pet cat.

People with a weakened immune system, and people who are pregnant, are the groups the NHS advises to take precautions and to seek early advice about symptoms. A midwife or GP can talk through your situation if you are worried about a possible exposure.