Aproko Doctor Warns Pregnant Women To Avoid Cat Faeces, See Why
A seasoned health expert, Chinonso Egemba has warned pregnant women to avoid cat faeces.
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‘Aproko Doctor’ said cat faeces exposes pregnant women to miscarriage and stillbirth.
He explained on his Instagram handle that cat faeces cause an infection called Toxoplasmosis. The doctor said a pregnant woman exposes herself to miscarriage and stillbirth when she comes in contact with cat faeces.
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Dr Egemba said that this infection can be prevented by changing the cat litter daily. He also emphasized that the pregnant woman should not change it herself.
His words:
“If you are pregnant, it is important that you do not touch the faeces of the cat because you can also get an infection known as toxoplasmosis gondii, which may cause miscarriages, stillbirths and even infections in the child.
“So what do you do if you already have a cat? Number one, ensure that another person changes the cat litter, if possible.
“Number two, change the cat’s litter daily because it takes about one to five days before a cat litter becomes infectious to a human being.”
Why are cat faeces dangerous for pregnant women?
Cats are not dangerous for pregnant women, however, cats’ faeces are. This is because cat faeces contain Toxoplasmosis.
What is Toxoplasmosis?
This is a flu-like disease that is caused by a single-cell parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. This disease can be transferred from a cat’s faeces to humans or even animals.
Healthline explains that a pregnant woman infected with Toxoplasmosis transmit it to her foetus through the placenta. The infection may lead to serious birth defects if left untreated.
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The health portal said:
“Toxoplasma infection during pregnancy can be serious because the parasite can cross the placenta and infect the baby.
“An infected baby may suffer damage to the eye, brain, heart, lungs.
“The mother is also at increased risk for miscarriage if she has a recent toxoplasmosis infection.
“Some babies show signs of infection on an ultrasound. Your doctor may notice abnormalities in the brain and less commonly in the liver.
“Toxoplasmosis cysts can be found in the baby’s organs after the infection develops.
“The most serious damage occurs from nervous system infection.
“This can include damage to the baby’s brain and eyes, either in the womb or after birth. It may cause visual impairment or blindness, intellectual disability, and developmental delay.”