Protecting Yourself from Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis is an infection that a pregnant woman may contract due to the parasite toxoplasma gondii. Strangely, this infection is sometimes asymptomatic, which means a woman may not know if she is carrying the parasite. Because of the potentially damaging effects of toxoplasmosis, it is important for expectant mothers to avoid certain behaviors in order to help prevent the illness.
Toxoplasmosis is surprisingly common in pregnant women and affects up to 4,000 babies every year in the United States. Your physician and other healthcare professionals should warn you of the risks of this condition and the various foods and behaviors to avoid in order to protect yourself and your unborn child. If this is not done and you contract the disease, you may be able to bring that medical practitioner to court on the grounds of medical malpractice. For more information about toxoplasmosis and your legal rights as a victim, contact the experienced Philadelphia birth injury lawyers of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. today at 215-238-1130.
Toxoplasmosis Safety Tips
By following these simple steps, you can help protect yourself from this serious condition:
- Do not eat raw or undercooked meat or feed these food items to your cat.
- Do not get a new cat while you are pregnant or if you already have a cat, make sure to keep it indoors. Never empty the cat’s litter box on your own. Have someone else do it for you.
- Wash your hands thoroughly after handling raw meat.
- Make sure all kitchen utensils and equipment are washed thoroughly after coming into contact with raw meat.
- Wear gloves while gardening.
- Avoid sandboxes (cats can often use these as litter boxes)
If you contract toxoplasmosis while pregnant, your child may be at risk for mental retardation, vision loss, cerebral palsy, seizures or other complications. Because of the severity of these effects, it is imperative that your doctor advise you of the best practices in which to engage while pregnant to prevent this condition. If this is not done, you may have a viable malpractice case against that physician.
Contact Us
If you or someone you love has suffered from toxoplasmosis due to a doctor’s negligent behavior, contact the experienced Philadelphia birth injury attorneys of Lowenthal & Abrams, P.C. today at 215-238-1130 for a free initial consultation.