Listeriosis is an infectious disease that is transmitted through infected vegetables and food from infected animals: eggs, milk, meat and cheeses. The causative agent of listeriosis is listeria, the bacterium is resistant to the action of the environment. Its carriers are rodents and some types of domestic animals. Especially dangerous is listeriosis in pregnant women, as it can lead to spontaneous abortion, stillbirth and the appearance of severe anomalies in the fetus.
Symptoms of Listeriosis
Listeriosis in pregnancy does not have a characteristic clinical symptomatology. Women can complain about fever, general weakness, headache, pain in the muscles and back. This infection is most dangerous for the fetus, penetrating the hematoplacental barrier, listeria can cause damage to the nervous system. In early pregnancy, infection with fetal listeriomas can lead to spontaneous abortions. Infection of the fetus in later terms can lead to the birth of a dead child, intrauterine fetal death or severe lesions of the nervous system, lungs and liver. At present, cases of congenital listeriosis have significantly decreased.
Diagnosis and treatment of listeriosis
The analysis for listeriosis is carried out by sowing mucous from the nasopharynx to a nutrient medium, but the result will be ready no earlier than 14 days. The modern technique of PCR diagnostics allows you to quickly and accurately diagnose. Treatment of listeriosis is carried out by antibacterial drugs, antihistamines, glucocorticoids, plentiful drink and sorbents.
In the conditions of modern life, where the population does not have good immunity, and the quality of products leaves much to be desired, the threat of infection with listeriosis is becoming more real. A pregnant woman, like no other, needs to be especially careful when choosing food because she is responsible not only for her life, but also for her child's life.