Can toxoplasmosis be treated in pregnancy?
If a current infection of toxoplasmosis is confirmed in pregnancy a woman may be offered an antibiotic, spiramycin, which is thought to reduce the risk of transmission to the baby. If there is concern that the baby may already be infected, and the woman is more than 15 weeks pregnant, then she may be offered an amniocentesis (the removal of a sample of amniotic fluid from around the baby through a special needle, which is then tested for toxoplasmosis). If the baby is infected then the use of certain antibiotics may reduce the severity of the infection. At 20 weeks of pregnancy an ultrasound scan may also highlight any obvious physical problems in the baby. Termination of pregnancy is also an option for some women, when an infected baby with severe developmental problems has been confirmed. What can I do to try to reduce the risk of catching toxoplasmosis?
