Medical Conditions and Health Issues - Postpartum

<h2><strong>How to prevent toxoplamosis?</strong></h2>
<ol><ol type="1">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Do not eat raw or undercooked meat, especially lamb or pork. </li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Do not eat locally prepared cold cuts.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">After handling raw meat, wash your hands immediately with soap. Do not touch your eyes, nose, or mouth, or other body parts. When cooking, avoid tasting meat before it is fully cooked.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Do not empty a cat’s litter box. Have someone else, wearing gloves, do it.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Change litter daily before any Toxoplasma oocysts can "ripen" and become infectious (Stage F). Dispose of used litter safely, preferably in a sealed plastic bag. If pregnant, avoid changing the litter box if possible (or use rubber gloves).</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Wash all fruits and vegetables before eating them. Wash vegetables thoroughly before eating, especially those grown in backyard gardens. Boil water from ponds or streams before drinking when camping or hiking.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Don’t feed your cat raw or undercooked meat.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Keep your cat indoors to prevent it from hunting birds or rodents, which can be infected with many types of bacteria.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Wear gloves while gardening.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Avoid children’s sandboxes because cats may use them as litter boxes.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Cover sand boxes when not in use to discourage cats defecating in them.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Wash hands with soap and water after working with soil or after handling raw or undercooked meat.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Cutting boards, knives, and the sink and counters should be washed well after cutting meat.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Cook meat thoroughly until the internal temperature reaches 152ºF (66ºC) in a conventional oven. Microwaving is not a sure way to kill Toxoplasma in meat.</li>
</ol></ol>
<p><a title="toxoplasmosis infection" href="infections/toxoplasmosis-and-pregnancy"><strong>How do I get toxoplasmosis infection?</strong></a></p>
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Toxoplasmosis Prevention

<h2><strong>How do I get infected with toxoplasmosis?</strong></h2>
<p>Most people get infected with toxoplasmosis by eating undercooked meat or meat products such as lamb, beef, or game (including salami), having contact with soil, or by inhaling or swallowing infected cat litter.</p>
<p>When cats (and only cats) become infected with toxoplasmosis, they harbor the toxoplasma "oocytes" in their intestines. These oocytes are excreted through their feces into the cat litter. This is the so-called 'intestinal phase' of the toxoplasma life cycle and it only occurs in cats (wild as well as domesticated cats). The oocytes can be inhaled or swallowed and infect others, or if the cat feces goes into the earth, people and other animals can get it when the soil gets into their mouths.</p>
<p>The extraintestinal phase occurs in all infected animals (including cats) who come in contact with the oocytes. Infected animals (including humans) produce "tachyzoites" and, eventually, "bradyzoites" or "zoitocysts." These tacgyzoites, bradyzoites, and zoitocysts reside in muscle, and when you (or other animals) eat undercooked meat, you can get infected.</p>
<p>You can also get infected with toxoplasma by putting infected soil into your mouth (always wash your hands!) or by eating undercooked meat (including salami and other similar foods) from an animal who has become infected. Cats are the only animals excreting the oocytes in their feces.</p>
<p><strong><a title="Toxoplasmosis Prevention" href="infections/toxoplasmosis-prevention">Toxoplasmosis Prevention</a></strong></p>

How do I get infected with toxoplasmosis during pregnancy?

Toxoplasmosis and Pregnancy

<h2><strong>What is roseola?</strong></h2>
<p><span style="color: black;">Roseola is a disease in young children, usually up to 4 years of age. It is characterized by high temperatures (103-105 degrees F) that last 3-5 days which usually resolves on its own. This is then followed by the appearance of a rash that lasts a few hours to a few days, mostly on the upper arms, legs, and face. The rash is usually most prominent on the neck and trunk and consists of many small red 2-5mm spots that blanch when pressed. The agent responsible for Roseola is a virus called HHV-6 or human herpes virus 6.<br></span></p>
<h2><span style="color: black;">Who gets roseola?</span></h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;"><span style="color: black;">Most young children get infected with roseola, but they are not diagnosed with it because they only have a fever and usually no rash. Once you are infected, you are immune for the rest of your life and you cannot get it again.<br></span></p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;">How is it spread?</h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">The Roseola virus is usually spread by tiny droplets of fluid from the nose and throat of an infected child, and it could be could picked up from another child's hands or tissues, or drinking glass, or just by being in the same room.<br>Make sure all family members — especially those taking care of the baby — wash their hands frequently. (This is a good idea whenever your child has a fever because you won't know that you're dealing with roseola until you see the classic rash).</span></p>
<h2 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">Is it harmful in pregnancy?</h2>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;">Pregnant women get exposed to the virus all the time. By the time they are pregnant most women carry the antibody which means they had the disease already, so they are immune and cannot get it again.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto;">There are only very few reported cases<span style="color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"> where Roseola has affected the fetus, so the risk to the fetus after exposure is generally considered very low, especially when the vast majority of women are immune.</span></p>


Most young children get infected with roseola, but they are not diagnosed with it because they only have a fever and usually no rash. Once you are infected, you are immune for the rest of your life.

Is Roseola Harmful During Pregnancy?

<p>The major concern and biggest risk of toxoplasma is if&nbsp;you became infected for the very first time during your pregnany. About 40-50% of women test positive for toxoplasmosis before pregnancy and are unlikely to infect the fetus. If a woman has no history of the infection and doesn't carry the antibody at the beginning of her pregnancy, she and her fetus are at higher risk if she does come down with a primary toxoplasmosis infection while pregnant. A simple test for a protein called IgG will tell you if you have had it before or not.</p>
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<p>During the first trimester, only about 10% of fetuses become infected if the mother is infected, but the illness increases the risk of fetal complications, including severe congenital malformations and even death. After the first trimester, there's about a 60% chance that the fetus will become infected if the mother has a primary T. gondii infection, though at this stage, the majority of fetuses will have few or no symptoms. Presently, there are no recommendations in the U.S. for routinely testing pregnant women for toxoplasma. A positive result during pregnancy can be confusing because it's difficult to pinpoint the exact time of infection. The best time to get tested is before you get pregnant. If you test negative before or early in pregnancy, take precautions to prevent a toxoplasma infection: Avoid exposure to cat feces, and don't eat undercooked or raw meat. And get tested again later in pregnancy to make sure you haven't become infected.</p>
<p><a>More Toxoplasma FAQs at Palo Alto Medical Foundation</a></p>

The major concern and biggest risk of toxoplasma is if you became
infected for the very first time during your pregnany. A simple test for a protein called IgG will tell you if you have had it
before or not.

Toxoplamosis and Infections

<h2>What is&nbsp;Group B Strep (GBS)?</h2>
<p>Group B Strep (GBS) is a bacteria that can be found in the bowels, vagina, bladder, or throat, and commonly without any symptoms. About one in four pregnant women normally carry Group B Strep (GBS) in their vaginas. Most don't even know that they carry it, and the majority of pregnant women testing positive for GBS have no problems. However, GBS can lead to certain complications for both you and your and baby, so if you test positive when you're pregnant, you should be treated during labor.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>How common is GBS?</h2>
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<p>About one in four pregnant women carry a bacterium called Group B Streptococcus (Group B Strep or GBS) in their vagina. It is not well established how exactly women get infected with GBS, but it can be sexually transmitted and people who carry GBS are only temporarily infected in most cases, although some people can become lifelong carriers of the bacteria.</p>
<p><em><a href="/love/std-sexually-transmitted-infections-diseases" target="_self">Learn about common sexually transmitted diseases</a></em></p>
<h2>How do you test for GBS?</h2>
<p>The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2020/02/prevention-of-group-b-streptococcal-early-onset-disease-in-newborns" target="_blank">American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists now recommends performing universal GBS screening</a>&nbsp;during a 2-week window between 36 0/7 and 37 6/7 weeks of gestation. Testing for GBS is easy to detect, the doctor will take a swab of both the vagina and rectum for special culture, which may take up to a week for results.&nbsp;</p>
<h2>How does Group B Step affect the baby?</h2>
<p>Babies that become infected with GBS at birth (“early-onset”) can develop pneumonia or meningitis, an infection of the nervous system. Babies that survive the initial infection, particularly those who have meningitis, may have long-term problems, such as hearing or vision loss or learning disabilities. Premature babies are more susceptible to GBS infection than full-term babies, but three in four babies who get GBS disease are full term.</p>
<p>GBS disease may also develop in infants 1 week to several months after birth ("late-onset disease"). While the source of the infection in early-onset disease is usually from the mother, in late-onset disease the source of the infection is usually unknown.</p>
<h2>How is GBS treated?</h2>
<p>GBS can be successfully treated with antibiotics (e.g., penicillin or ampicillin) and is administered through the vein.</p>
<p>Pregnant women who test positive for GBS should be<span>&nbsp;</span>treated with antibiotics (usually Penicillin) during labor. A positive GBS culture result means that the mother carries GBS, but it does not mean that she or her baby will definitely become ill.&nbsp;If you carry GBS, you have a relatively low risk of delivering an infant with GBS disease. If GBS&nbsp;is found in your urine, you should get treated both at the time the diagnosis is made and during labor.</p>

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Group B Strep (GBS) is a bacteria that can be found in the bowels, vagina, bladder, or throat, and commonly without any symptoms. About one in four pregnant women normally carry Group B Strep (GBS) in their vaginas.

Group B Strep - GBS and Pregnancy

<p>Male circumcision has commonly been all about choice. Some families choose to have their male children circumcised based on religious beliefs, while others choose to leave foreskin intact for the same reason. Circumcision has also been chosen by some parents as a means of making cleaning the penis easier. In recent years, circumcision has been linked to several health issues that may change the mind of some parents who would have once preferred to keep the foreskin intact. <br><br>Neonatal circumcision is the medical name for removing foreskin in the first few days of life. According to recent research, the removal of foreskin can reduce the risk of HIV, sexually transmitted diseases, cancer and infection. Even though there has been a recent resurgence of parents choosing to leave the foreskin in place, these health issues play quite an important role in the overall decision. <br><br>Ancient Egyptians were the first to utilize circumcision to improve penile health. Sand caught in the foreskin lead to frequent infections; when the skin was removed, these infections were stopped. Jewish and Muslim people chose to integrate the practice as part of religious expectation and the rest of the westernized world soon followed. About 100 years ago, the United States started using circumcision as a means to prevent masturbation. <br><br>Despite the health benefits of circumcision, more than 15 states in the United States do not include male neonatal circumcision as one of the routine medical procedures covered by Federal health care (Medicaid). Coverage is limited due to the stance by the American Academy of Pediatrics that data supporting circumcision is not conclusive. The paper revealing this stance was released in 1999.<br><br>Harvard medical anthropologist Daniel Halperin believes that stance is wrong. His study of Kenyan and Ugandan men proved adult male circumcision reduced the risk of contracting HIV by 50%. Soon after, the World Health Organization suggested neonatal or adult male circumcision be added to a list of procedures that could prevent illness and infection. <br><br>As a result of the Harvard study, the American Academy of Pediatrics chose to revise their 1999 statement about circumcision. <br><br>Parents often think about the pain and risk of infection associated with neonatal circumcision. In terms of pain, infants tend to feel discomfort for only a few moments after the procedure is complete. After that, care is limited to washing with soap and applying topical cream. Infection occurs very rarely and is treated with ease. As a surgical procedure, circumcision is deemed the safest with only one death for every 500,000 circumcisions.<br><br>While neonatal circumcisions are the most popular, adult circumcisions can be done with fantastic success. Adult males who are circumcised tend to feel a bit more pain than babies and recovery time can be longer. However, reducing the risk of transmitting HIV or contracting an STD is worth the pain and recovery for most people. <br><br>At the end of the day, choosing circumcision for your baby or as an adult is all about choice. Research continues to uncover health risks associated with foreskin left in place from birth. The future of circumcision looks to remain voluntary, but that could change depending on the risks versus the benefits.</p>
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According to recent research, male circumcision (the removal of foreskin) can  reduce the  risk of HIV, sexually transmitted diseases, cancer and  infection. At  the end of the day, however, choosing circumcision for your baby or as an  adult  is all about choice.

Male Circumcision: Do the Benefits Outweigh the Risks?

<p>A study out of Orebro University in Sweden has linked smoking to increased risk of fetal coordination and motor skill problems. Researchers narrowed down the results noting boys tend to be more affected than girls.</p>
<p>More than 13,000 children took part in the National Child Development Study. All children were born within a seven day period in March of 1958. Participation in on-going and the group is followed throughout life. Data collected at birth included whether or not the mother smoked during pregnancy.</p>
<p>At age 11, children underwent motor skill and coordination testing. Skills tested included time-based matching with both left and right hand and copying a figure. Children of mothers who smoked at least ½ pack of cigarettes a day did not perform as well as children of non-smoking mothers.</p>
<p>This study involved physical motor skills as opposed to cognitive. Basic motor skills can be measured on a more even level across socioeconomic status and ethnic background. Children were given tests that involved basic brain development, not education or ability to learn.</p>
<p>Doctors look forward to further testing to reveal whether or not malnutrition caused by maternal smoking, or some other external factor, was to cause for the pronounced difference in motor skill and cognitive development.</p>
<p>Researchers also noted infants born to mothers who smoke may be at increased risk for certain diseases and disorders. Scott Montgomery, Professor at Orebro, stated, “These findings also help us to understand why neurological function in childhood is linked with adverse health outcomes in later life such as obesity and type 2 diabetes, as these are also associated with maternal smoking during pregnancy.”</p>
<p>Source: M Larsson, S M Montgomery. Journal of Epidemiology &amp; Community Health. 22 September 2010.</p>

A study out of Orebro University in Sweden has linked smoking to increased risk of fetal coordination and motor skill problems. Researchers narrowed down the results noting boys tend to be more affected than girls.

Mom's Smoking Linked to Motor Skills Issues in Child

<p>In a new study published by the Archives of Diseases in Childhood, women who exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life were less likely to report common infections&nbsp;in their infants. Exclusivity means breastmilk was the only source of food consumed by infants.</p> <p>Researchers followed a group of 1,000 infants for one year. At one month, three months, six months, nine months and one year – common infections were noted. The most common infant infections include respiratory, urinary, eye and ear infections. Also noted were upset stomach and thrush. Breastfeeding is supported as the healthiest choice for moms and infants because antibodies pass from mom to the baby via breastmilk – this study supports that claim.</p> <p>Exclusive breastfeeding was rare in the study with only 24.6% of women doing so at one month of age. By six months, that number dropped to only 10%. Previous studies have reported significant drops in breastfeeding numbers between one and six months post delivery. In this study, babies who were exclusively breastfed longer were less likely to contract infections and when they did get sick, the infection lasted fewer days. Of the starting 1000, only 91 were exclusively breastfed at six months and all suffered from fewer infections and less severe illness.</p> <p>Researchers note that women who breastfed and bottle fed with formula did not gain the full advantage of exclusive breastfeeding. Those infants fell closer to the formula feeding group than the breastfed only group of infants.</p> <p>Source: Fani Ladomenou, Joanna Moschandreas, Anthony Kafatos, Yiannis Tselentis, Emmanouil Galanakis. Archives of Diseases in Childhood. 28 September, 2010.</p>

In a new study published by the Archives of Diseases in Childhood, women who exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life were less likely to report common infections