Listeria is a bacteria that may be found in contaminated foods. If anyone ingests it, it can cause the illness listeriosis. A pregnant woman is more susceptible to get sick from listeria because her immune system is compromised. In fact, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) claims pregnant women are 20 times more likely to get the illness. It is most common for pregnant women to get listeriosis in the third trimester.
Foods in Which Listeria is Found
Listeria is found in water and soil, so vegetables is one food group where listeria can be present. It can also be found in uncooked meats, unpasteurized milk, foods made from unpasteurized milk and processed foods. Ready-to-eat foods like hot dogs and deli meat can also carry the bacteria. The best way to kill listeria is by pasteurization and cooking.
Symptoms of Listeriosis
If a woman falls ill because of consuming listeria, symptoms will start to appear two to 30 days after consumption. For pregnant women, the symptoms can include:
- headache
- muscle aches
- fever
- nausea
- vomiting
If the infection spreads to the nervous system, symptoms will also be a stiff neck, disorientation and/or convulsions. If a woman has any symptoms of listeriosis, she should contact her doctor to get it treated.
Treating Listeriosis
The CDC states 2,500 people fall ill to listeriosis every year in the United States and about 500 of those people will die. Pregnant women account for just over one-fourth of those cases. The best way to treat the condition is to take antibiotics while pregnant. In most cases, these antibiotics will keep the unborn child healthy. If a newborn is born with listeriosis, s/he is also treated with antibiotics.
To lower the risk, a pregnant woman should:
- eat hard cheeses and avoid soft cheeses
- practice safe food handling
- reheat (160 degrees Fahrenheit) hot dogs and deli meat
- avoid refrigerated smoked seafood (unless it is in a cooked dish/entree)
- avoid refrigerated pates and meat spreads
- refrigerate and freeze food promptly
How Listeriosis Can Affect a Pregnancy
If a pregnant woman has listeriosis, there are potential hazards to the pregnancy and unborn child. These hazards include miscarriage, premature delivery, infection to the newborn and possibly even death to the newborn.
Listeriosis can be a serious illness to a pregnant woman and she should follow her doctor's advice to prevent and/or treat the illness. For more information about listeria including foods to avoid and safe food handling practices, visit this website.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.
Sources
- American Pregnancy Association, "Listeria and Pregnancy" (accessed February 20, 2011).
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Listeriosis and Pregnancy" (accessed February 20, 2011).
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