Toxoplasma gondii
Sources
Some of the sources of toxoplasma gondii are:
- Eating undercooked, contaminated meat, especially pork, lamb, and venison
- Accidentally indgesting undercooked contaminated meat after handling it and not washing your hands thoroughly,
- Eating food that was contaminated by knives, utensils, cutting boards, and other foods that have made contact with raw, contaminated meat.
Symptoms:
Most people who are infected with toxoplasma gondii are not even aware of it.
Some people who are infected may have flu-like symptoms with swollen lymph glands or muscle aches and pains that can last for more than a month.
Other symptoms may include reduced vision, blurred vision, pain when looking at bright lights, redness of thee eyes, and sometimes tearing of the eyes.
Treatment:
Treatments may include medications provided by your doctor but only if it is necessary because symptoms usually only last a few weeks to a month.
For a healthy person who is not pregnant, medication is not necessary, but a pregnant woman or someone with a weak immune system may need medication to treat their symptoms.
Long Term Effects:
It is possible that the effects of toxoplama gondii may stay even after the parasite has been cleared from your body.
Prevention:
Some ways to prevent toxoplasmosis are to:
- Cooking and storing meat at the correct temperatures
- Wash hands thoroughly
- Keep food pep areas as clean as possible