Listeriosis is a type of bacterial infection caused by a germ which is found in soil and in most animals.
Only about one in 20,000 women are affected by Listeriosis during their pregnancy and in the majority of cases, the baby becomes affected while still in the womb because the infection is passed to them via the placenta.
The infection can cause serious damage to the health of the baby such as meningitis, pneumonia, jaundice or eye infections. There is also an increased risk of miscarriage, premature labour or stillbirth.
The bacteria that causes listeriosis, listeria monocytogenes, can be picked up from infected foods such as unwashed fruit and veg, some cheeses and pâté.
To avoid the infection when pregnant: Avoid soft cheeses such as Brie, Camembert, Stilton, and goat's cheese. (Hard cheese, cottage cheese and yoghurts are fine to eat)
Avoid eating pâté
Avoid unpasteurised dairy products, including unpasteurised ice creams. (Check the label to make sure probiotic yoghurt drinks have been pasturised)
Wash fruit, vegetables and salads with water before eating
Wash you hands before and after handling food
Ensure all food, especially meat, eggs, chilled meals and ready-to-eat chicken, is cooked thoroughly
Check the 'use by' dates on the packaging.
The risk from cold (pre-cooked) meats and smoked salmon is fairly low, but you may wish to avoid them while you are pregnant.
Symptoms of ListeriosisThe early symptoms can be quite similar to flu - headache, fever, muscle pain and chills. You may also experience diarrhoea and sickness. If you have these symptoms, you should see you GP straight away and you can be given a blood or urine test to see if you are infected.
If you are infected, you will be given antibiotics to stop the infection reaching your baby. If your baby has already been infected, the doctors may decide that your baby has to be delivered early. This will allow the baby to be treated with antibiotics to reduce the severity of the infection.
If you are infected by listeriosis during the first trimester there is a very small chance that you will pass the infection to your baby. During the second and third trimesters, this chance increases slightly.
May 2011 |
Pregnancy And Contact Lenses
