Diseases

Listeriosis During Pregnancy

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A person with listeriosis usually has fever and muscle aches, often preceded by diarrhea or other gastrointestinal symptoms. Almost everyone who is diagnosed with listeriosis has invasive infection (meaning that the bacteria spread from their intestines to their blood stream or other body sites).

SYMPTOMS

The symptoms of listeriosis include fever, muscle aches, and sometimes nauseaor diarrhea. If infection spreads to the nervous system, symptoms such asheadache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or convulsions can occur. But infected pregnant women may experience only a mild, flu-like illness.

CAUSES

Vegetables can become contaminated from the soil or from manure used as fertilizer,animals can carry the bacteria and can contaminate meats and dairy products,processed foods, such as soft cheeses and cold cuts, can be contaminated after processing.