Food Poisoning During Pregnancy

Food poisoning is caused due to careless consumption of unhygienic food. Vomiting, stomach pain, headache and fever are the common symptoms of it. Expecting mothers usually recover quite soon after getting affected unless the case is severe. It is a general misconception that eating outdoors is the cause of food poisoning. However, eating incorrect food items at home can cause food poisoning as well. Hence, a pregnant woman must always be careful about the intake of foods. Also it becomes essential for a pregnant woman to take extra care as two lives are at stake. Taking care from the early stages of pregnancy will always benefit the mother and her baby.

Food poisoning during pregnancy is a potential risk to the fetus too, which can lead to miscarriage and stillbirth. A balanced diet consisting of nutritious food is very important during pregnancy to avoid the perils of food poisoning. Choosing the food pattern is also essential. During pregnancy you can generally consume everything that you normally have. Here are some major types of food poisoning that you must be aware of.

Listeriosis
This is a hazardous kind of food poisoning caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. This bacteria is usually present in the living environment, that is soil and water. It gets dangerous when it comes in contact with food products such as vegetables, any kind of dairy product, meat and various kinds of processed food. The symptoms are visible within 30 days of the infection, but sometimes doesn't show up till three months of consuming the contaminated food. These symptoms are - muscle aches, headaches, fever, loss of balance, convulsion, severe symptoms include - brain stroke, meningitis or septicaemia. Pregnant women become more vulnerable to this infection than normal human beings. They experience mild flu or flu-like feeling that they tend to ignore. The infection, if not detected early and treated properly can eventually lead to miscarriage or stillbirth.

Taking antibiotics, which is the best medication suggested can have a negative affect on the fetus and the baby after its birth. So, early detection of the disease is a must. Pregnant women are 20% more susceptible to Listeriosis.

Precautionary Measures

• First and foremost thing is to keep an eye on the early symptoms of the disease and not to ignore them.
• Do not consume unpasteurized milk or any milk products prepared using it.
• Don't eat salads on the roads that consist of seafood, ham, eggs and chicken.
• Avoid processed cheese such as - Brit, feta, blue-veined cheese, Mexican style 'queso blanco fresco' cheese, Camembert, etc. Hard cheese like cheddar and semi-soft cheeses like mozzarella, cottage and cream cheese can be consumed.
• Never consume smoked seafood, that too smoked unless it is a part of any other dish like casseroles.
• Avoid consuming refrigerated cheese spreads and meat spreads or 'pate'.
• Consume the ready-to-eat food within a short while after buying it.
• Keep the kitchen, dining area, the refrigerator and other food-storing places clean.

Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis is caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which is a protozoan. It infects all hot-blooded living organisms which includes human beings. Toxoplasmosis attacks its host in two ways, as 'acute toxoplasmosis' and 'latent toxoplasmosis'. The general symptoms of acute toxoplasmosis are normally flu-like such as - swelling of lymph nodes, muscle ache, headache, etc; sometimes the patient's eye may get damaged due to the acute type. Whereas the symptoms of latent toxoplasmosis are not visible for even months. The infection may lead to some psychological disorders as well, such as - bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, attention deficit disorders, Parkinson's disease, etc.

The host of this disease generally acquires its parasites by swallowing the eggs of the Toxoplasma gondii, which are present in the soil or any other surfaces that are contaminated by these parasites. Accidentally putting your hand in the mouth right after gardening, having contact with the cat's house or anything related to the cat's feces leads to this kind of infection. As said earlier, it generally shows no symptoms or typical flu-like symptoms. The pregnant woman gets infected by the parasites and the infections spread to her fetus. This may prove fatal and further lead to stillbirth, miscarriage or even birth defects. In case you are planning a pregnancy, it is a must that you do the tests for toxoplasmosis. If the results are positive, consult your physician at the earliest. In case of negative result, consider the precautions to be taken not to get affected by the parasite during the course of your pregnancy.

Precautionary Measures

• Never clean the cat's house or the cat's feces on your own, and if you do, do use a face mask and hand-gloves. Washing and cleaning your hands with a medicated soap is a must.
• Keep the cat indoors as much as possible so that it doesn't come in contact with the eggs of the parasite
• Make it a point to keep every table or countertop clean.
• Wash all the vegetables, fruits and food items that are likely to get in touch with the cat's feces.
• Wear hand-gloves and footwear during gardening.
• Consume well-cooked meat and strictly avoid dry meat. Also wash and clean all the utensils after preparing any dish.
• Try and avoid untreated water as far as possible. Make a habit of having boiled water.

Other types of Food Poisoning
Pregnant women are also vulnerable to infection from other bacteria and parasites like, campylobacter infections, shigella, botulism, salmonella, etc. All in all, pregnant women are more prone to listeriosis and toxoplasmosis.

Avoiding such infections is a priority on your to-do list. Follow the above hygiene rules as much as you can to help yourself and your bundle-of-joy to be!