Table of contents:
- Risk of disease if raising animals during pregnancy
- TORCH syndrome
- Toxoplasmosis
- Rabies
- Salmonellosis
- Lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM)
Having a cute pet can liven up the atmosphere of the house. However, there is a risk of keeping an animal while pregnant, which needs to be watched out for. This risk is not only for the health of the mother, but also for the baby in the womb. So, what are the impacts of raising animals during pregnancy? What animals have this impact?
Risk of disease if raising animals during pregnancy
Each pet carries different bacteria that can be transmitted and cause disease in humans. Some diseases can be easily cured, but some are dangerous for groups of people with weakened immune systems, including pregnant women.
Here are some diseases that can arise in pregnant women who have pets:
TORCH is an acronym for four names of bacteria / viruses, namely Toxoplasmosis, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Herpes Simplex. The TORCH syndrome is an infection of a developing fetus or newborn caused by one of these four bacteria.
These four types of bacteria can be transmitted from animals to humans. Therefore, TORCH syndrome can occur when pregnant women have pets and are infected with one of these bacteria. These bacteria can cross the placenta so that it will interfere with fetal development.
If it is transmitted to the fetus, it can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, delay in fetal growth and maturation, or early delivery. Even at birth, babies can experience a variety of symptoms, such as lethargy, fever, difficulty eating, enlarged liver and spleen, and anemia.
Other symptoms that may appear include reddish spots and discoloration of the skin, eyes, or other symptoms. Any bacteria may also produce other additional symptoms.
Toxoplasmosis is part of the TORCH syndrome. This disease is an infection of bacteria Toxoplasma Gondii which is in cat litter and can be transmitted by direct contact or accidental inhalation by humans.
Toxoplasmosis cases are rare. From 1,000 pregnant women, the possibility of transmission only occurs in one person. This disease is not dangerous for pregnant women if they have been keeping a cat for a long time. Usually, pregnant women who have been keeping cats for a long time have been exposed to toxoplasmosis and their immune systems are strong enough to fight these bacteria.
However, it is different with pregnant women who have just had a cat pet. In this condition, the disease can harm the fetus, as can the dangers described in the TORCH syndrome above.
Rabies can be transmitted through the saliva of an animal infected with the rabies virus. Usually, the stars that carry this virus are dogs, raccoons, or bats. If you have rabies, you will experience symptoms such as fever, chills, and muscle weakness. Then, it starts affecting the brain causing confusion, restlessness, and difficulty sleeping.
If you have a dog pet, pregnant women can contract rabies. Moreover, if the dog is not healthy and has never received a rabies vaccine.
So far, there is no evidence that rabies can harm the fetus. However, if pregnant women are exposed to certain diseases, it is certainly not good for the mother and fetus. Moreover, rabies can also cause death if not treated properly.
Salmonellosis is a bacterial infection salmonella. In pets, salmonella bacteria can be found in turtles.
During pregnancy, women who have pet turtles are at risk of getting Salmonellosis. Symptoms that arise from this bacterial infection, namely fever, diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
If diarrhea and vomiting occur in pregnant women, this can lead to dehydration. Worse, salmonella bacteria can also cause blood infections or meningitis. Pregnant women can also transmit these bacteria to their fetuses.
Lymphocytic chorio-meningitis (LCM) is a viral root disease of the same name. The LCM virus is usually transmitted by rodents or other rodents, such as hamsters, squirrels, hedgehogs, beavers, and rabbits. In fact, apart from LCM, rats can cause other diseases.
Symptoms caused by LCM are the same as flu and most people who get this disease get better quickly. However, if severe LCM can cause problems in the nervous system, such as meningitis or paralysis.
Pregnant women who have pets that are included in rodents are susceptible to LCM. The virus that causes it can also be transmitted to the fetus so that it can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, or congenital abnormalities.
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