Toxoplasmosis During Pregnancy

Medications

Medicine for toxoplasmosis is only needed when the infection affects an unborn baby (fetus) or someone with a very weak immune system. Therefore, although a pregnant woman who has a healthy immune system is not personally at risk when infected, treatment is needed to protect her fetus.

If you are diagnosed with toxoplasmosis during pregnancy, you will be treated with antibiotics.⁵

• Antibiotic treatment reduces the chances that your fetus will become infected.
• If your fetus becomes infected (diagnosed using amniocentesis), another antibiotic may replace or be added to your treatment. This treatment reduces the severity of fetal toxoplasmosis and related problems after birth.⁷
• If your newborn has toxoplasmosis, he or she will take antibiotics for the first year of life. This is needed to lower the risk of brain damage and blindness from the infection.

Medication Choices

Antibiotic therapy

What To Think About

Antibiotic treatment during pregnancy may not cure a fetal toxoplasmosis infection.³ But some research has shown that it greatly reduces the risk and severity of brain and eye damage.²

Go to previous section	Go to top of page	Go to next section
Author:	Maria G. Essig, MS, ELS	Last Updated: June 27, 2007
Medical Review:	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine Gregory A L Davies, MD, FRCSC, FACOG - Maternal-Fetal Medicine
© 1995-2008 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. How this information was developed to help you make better health decisions.