Pak Andry..

Toksoplasmosis, Penyakit yang Perlu Diwaspadai! 
Oleh Adi Priyana dr Sp PK Fakultas Kedokteran Universitas Trisakti, Jakarta. 

Toksoplasmosis adalah suatu penyakit akibat infeksi parasit Toxoplasma gondii 
yang sering menimbulkan penyakit pada manusia dan  hewan ternak. Parasit ini 
cenderung untuk masuk ke dalam sel organ (intra sel) tubuh manusia dan terdapat 
dalam tiga bentuk, yaitu bentuk trofozoit yang beredar dalam darah, bentuk 
ookista yang dikeluarkan dalam tinja kucing dan bentuk kista yang menetap dalam 
jaringan tubuh seperti paru, jantung, otot, dan otak. Bentuk kista berupa 
sebuah kantung yang di dalamnya berisi beribu-ribu trofozoit T gondii. Kucing 
adalah tempat hidup utama (hospes definitive) parasit ini karena dapat 
berkembang biak secara seksual maupun aseksual. Adapun dalam tubuh manusia, 
unggas dan hewan ternak lain sebagai hospes perantara, parasit ini berkembang 
biak secara aseksual, yaitu kemampuan untuk berkembang biak dengan cara 
membelah diri. Di tanah yang tercemar, ookista dapat dibawa oleh lalat, kecoak, 
semut atau cacing tanah ke berbagai tempat di kebun. Ookista dapat menempel di 
sayuran, buah-buahan atau termakan oleh hewan ternak seperti ayam, kambing, 
anjing, sapi, dan
menembus epitel usus, berkembang biak dengan membelah diri serta menetap dalam 
bentuk kista pada organ hewan tersebut. Bentuk parasit T gondii
seperti batang melengkung dengan ukuran lebih  kecil dari sel darah merah (3-6 
mm) bergerak dengan gerakan aktinomisin di bawah membran plasma, dapat menembus 
sel secara aktif masuk ke berbagai jaringan seperti otot, otak, mata, dan usus. 
Kucing yang menderita toksoplasmosis akan mengeluarkan beribu-ribu ookista yang 
tetap infektif selama berbulan-bulan di tanah yang tidak terkena sinar 
matahari. Ookista yang tertelan akan membentuk trofozoit dan ikut aliran darah 
serta memasuki sel berinti organ tubuh atau membentuk kista. Manusia dapat 
terinfeksi bila tertelan ookista atau makan daging ternak seperti ayam, kambing 
atau sapi yang mengandung kista dan tidak dimasak matang. 

Pada umumnya, infeksi Toxoplasma tidak menunjukkan gejala klinis sehingga 
diagnosis terhadap penyakit ini sering terabaikan dalam  praktik dokter 
sehari-hari. Umumnya, penderita hanya merasa demam ringan, lemas, mual, dan 
pembesaran kelenjar getah bening. Infeksi parasit ini pada manusia sehat tidak 
menyebabkan sakit berat karena sistem kekebalan tubuh dapat menghancurkan 
parasit ini.  Pada keadaan di mana terjadi penurunan kekebalan seperti pada 
penyakit AIDS,
pemakaian kortikosteroid jangka lama, dan penderita  keganasan dengan 
kemoterapi, maka parasit yang semula diam dalam bentuk kista dapat pecah dan 
tiba-tiba mengganas serta mematikan. Infeksi Toxoplasma pada wanita hamil dapat 
menyebabkan keguguran (abortus), lahir mati, atau cacat bawaan seperti kebutaan 
(retinokoroiditis), hidrosefalus, gangguan neurologis, dan tuli. Keadaan 
seperti ini tidak saja merupakan beban berat bagi keluarga, tetapi karena 
frekuensi penyakit ini di Indonesia cukup tinggi, berarti juga merupakan beban 
nasional yang memerlukan perhatian besar. Walaupun secara klinis diagnosis 
penyakit ini sulit ditegakkan, tetapi dapat mudah diketahui apakah seseorang 
bebas dari penyakit, sedangkan sakit atau telah kebal, melalui pemeriksaan 
darah terhadap antibodi Toxoplasma dengan teknik Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent 
Assay (ELISA). Pemeriksaan darah seperti ini dapat dilakukan di banyak 
laboratorium kesehatan di negara kita, sayangnya biayanya cukup mahal. 
Sebenarnya infeksi parasit ini dapat dihindarkan dengan cara hidup bersih 
seperti mencuci tangan sebelum makan atau kerja di kebun, memasak atau 
memanggang daging sampai matang, dan mencuci sayur atau buah sebelum dimakan 
Penting pemeriksaan darah terhadap kemungkinan infeksi penyakit ini pada masa 
pranikah atau sebelum kehamilan karena  penyakit ini dapat diobati sehingga 
dampak negatif seperti keguguran, lahir mati atau cacat setelah lahir dapat 
dihindari.*

http://www.cfpc.ca/English/cfpc/programs/patient%20education/getting%20ready%20pregnancy/default.asp?s=1

Getting Ready for Pregnancy - Things to think about before you're pregnant

 Ask Your Family Doctor

Developed by the College of Family Physicians of Canada

Why is being ready for pregnancy so important?

Conception occurs about two weeks before your period is due. That means you may 
not even know you're pregnant until you're more than three weeks along.
Yet your baby is most sensitive to harm two to eight weeks after conception. 
This is when your baby's facial features and organs, such as the heart and
kidneys, begin to form. Anything you eat, drink, smoke or are exposed to can 
affect your baby. That's why it's best to start acting as if you're pregnant
before you are.

When should I talk with my doctor about pregnancy?

Any time - even before you're thinking about getting pregnant. You can talk 
about your diet, habits, lifestyle and any concerns you have. Plan on visiting 
your doctor within a year before you want to get pregnant. At that time, you 
may be given a physical check-up. You and the father-to-be will probably be 
asked about your medical history. You'll both also have the chance to ask your 
doctor questions. You may want to be screened for rubella and HIV or need other 
blood tests too.

What should I eat?

What you eat will also feed your baby. Junk food like potato chips, soda and 
cookies won't have the right nutrients for your baby. You might also need to
make some changes if you follow a vegetarian or weight-loss diet. Talk to your 
doctor before taking extra vitamins and minerals. Some of them may be
harmful, like high doses of vitamin A.

Folic Acid Alert

Women who get enough folic acid (a B vitamin) during pregnancy are much less 
likely to have a baby with serious problems of the brain or spinal cord.
Folic acid should be taken for 3 months before getting pregnant because these 
problems develop very early in pregnancy-only three to four weeks
after conception.

Women need to take about 0.4 mg of folic acid a day. That amount is usually in 
a multivitamin. You may also want to eat more foods rich in folic acid,
such as:

 Green leafy vegetables (like spinach)
 Foods in the cabbage family (such as broccoli, cauliflower and brussel 
sprouts),
 Some fruits (including oranges, cantaloupe and bananas), 
 Milk
 Grains and organ meats (such as chicken livers).

However, it may be difficult to obtain this amount of folic acid in your diet. 
Therefore, it is recommended you take a multivitamin.

What about weight?

If you're overweight, your risk during pregnancy is higher for things such as 
high blood pressure and diabetes. You can use the time before getting
pregnant to lose weight if you need to.

Is exercise okay?

Yes. The more fit you are, the easier your pregnancy and delivery may be. But 
if you exercise too much, it can make getting pregnant harder. And overdoing it 
once you're pregnant can be dangerous. If you haven't been  exercising, start 
before you get pregnant. While you are pregnant, you can probably keep up a 
light exercise program. Walking every day is one of the best exercises. Talk to 
your doctor about a good exercise plan for you.

Do I need to change my habits?

Using tobacco, alcohol or drugs can cause serious harm to your baby and 
sometimes even cause miscarriage. If you use tobacco, alcohol or drugs, get
help from your doctor to quit. Try not to be embarrassed or scared to talk to 
your doctor. He or she will want to help you find a way to stop.

Smoking. Smoking can cause miscarriage, bleeding, premature birth and low birth 
weight. It's also linked to sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), in
which infants suddenly die of no obvious cause. Children of smokers may do less 
well on IQ tests, and their physical growth may be slower.

Alcohol. Drinking by a pregnant woman can cause fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). 
FAS can lead to many problems, including mental slowness, poor
growth, defects of the face and a head that is too small. Drink no alcohol or 
as little as possible before and during pregnancy.

Illegal drugs. Using marijuana, cocaine and other illegal drugs raises the 
chances of miscarriage, premature birth and birth defects. With some drugs,
the child will be born addicted to the drug that the mother used and will go 
through withdrawal.

Cats and Toxoplasmosis

You may have heard that pregnant women shouldn't clean a cat's litter box. 
That's because a parasite that causes a disease called toxoplasmosis can be
spread through the feces of cats. Toxoplasmosis isn't usually harmful to 
children and adults, but it can cause birth defects, including blindness and
brain damage. You can also get toxoplamosis by eating raw or undercooked red 
meat or touching dirt, such as when gardening, that has been contaminated by
cat feces.

Am I around things at work or home that could be harmful?

Maybe. Some dangers include radiation, heavy metals like lead, copper and 
mercury, carbon disulfide, acids, and anesthetic gases. The radiation from
computer screens doesn't seem to be harmful.

Talk with your doctor about your workplace and home to find out if there are 
any dangers. If anything could harm your baby at work, you may be able to
use special clothing or equipment to protect your baby, or you may be able to 
get a short-term transfer before and during pregnancy.

The Hazards of Heat

Soaking in a hot tub might sound relaxing, but it could hurt your baby if 
you're in the first trimester of pregnancy. Some research has shown that
high heat-from a fever, hot bath or hot tub-during the first three months may 
cause birth defects.

What about medicines I take?

Both prescription and over-the counter medicines can affect your baby. Ask your 
doctor before taking anything. If you need to take medicine often because of 
health problems, such as asthma, epilepsy, thyroid problems or migraine 
headaches, talk with your doctor about your treatment. Many of these drugs can 
be taken safely in pregnancy but it is always best to ask.

What test may I need before I get pregnant?

You may need some tests to find out if you have problems that could harm you or 
your baby during pregnancy. Many things can be handled before pregnancy
to help prevent problems for your baby and for you.

Rubella. If you don't know whether you've ever had rubella (German measles) or 
been vaccinated against it, a blood test can give the answer. Catching the 
German measles while you're pregnant can be very bad for your baby. You can get 
a vaccination before you try to get pregnant to prevent this.

Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). STDs such as gonorrhea, syphilis and 
chlamydia can make it hard for you to get pregnant and can also harm your
baby. These and other infections can be treated before pregnancy.

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). HIV, which is the virus that causes AIDS 
(acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), can be passed onto your baby.

Other problems. Your doctor may also want to do some other tests depending on 
if you're at risk for other problems, such as anemia or hepatitis.

What if I have health problems?

Diabetes, high blood pressure or problems with your circulation may need extra 
care during pregnancy. It's often easier to treat problems or get them
under control before you're pregnant.

PKU Alert

Were you born with phenylketonuria (PKU)? If so, you had to follow a special 
diet low in phenylalanine (an amino acid in many high-protein foods) when
you were a child. Consult your doctor or dietician in order to start the same 
diet again before getting pregnant. If you don't, your baby may suffer
from mental slowness, low birth weight and other problems.

Will my baby be at risk for genetic problems?

Your baby may be at risk for certain problems that run in your family. These 
are genetic diseases. Cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia and thalassemia (a
type of anemia) are examples. These problems aren't caused by anything you do. 
Your baby is also at higher risk of genetic problems if you're over age
35. Talk with your doctor about assessing your risk factors and doing screening 
tests if needed.

Revised 2002
The College of Family Physicians of Canada

This information provides a general overview on this topic and may not apply to 
everyone. To find out if this information applies to you and to get more
information on this subject, talk to your family doctor. This health education 
material has been favorably reviewed by the Patient Education Review Committee 
of the College of Family Physicians of Canada:

Dr Cathy MacLean, Halifax, NS (Scientific Editor)
Dr C. Richard Fischer, Pickering, ON
Dr Patrice Laplante, Fleurimont, QC
Dr Richard Moffatt, Red Deer, AB
Dr David Nunn, Kentville, NS
Dr Cornelius Woelk, Winkler, MB

The College of Family Physicians of Canada, one of the nation's largest
medical groups, is committed to promoting and maintaining high standards for
family physicians - the doctors who provide ongoing, comprehensive care for
people of all ages.

This patient education information was developed by The College of Family
Physicians of Canada in cooperation with the American Academy of Family
Physicians.

much love,

reyna




----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Manufacturing L/F" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <balita-anda@balita-anda.com>
Sent: Friday, March 11, 2005 7:37 PM
Subject: [balita-anda] Toxoplasma


Dear All ,
Mbak-Mbak , Ibu-ibu atapun teman-teman mailing List , Saya Butuh Informasi
mengenai Toxoplasma [Sory aku lupa tulisannya gimana]
, sekitar 5 bulan yang lalu atau sekitar 6 bulan setelah kami menikah, dari
hasil tes darah yang dilakukan kepada istri sata  ternyata hasilnya
diperoleh
menghidap virus toxo plasma .Saran dari Dokter  [RS Awal Bross Batam] istri
saya harus menjalani terapi dan progressnya dimonitoring 
selama 2 bulan. Alhamdullilah , pada bulan Desember , Pada Test Darah ke-2
hasilnya negatif.
Karena banyak hal-hal yang berhubungan dengan Virus Toxoplasma yang tidak
saya ketahui , maka saya butuh bantuan dari teman-teman
Mengenai informasi penyakit ini . Mudah-mudahan berguna juga bagi yang lain
.
Terima kasih atas informasinya , 
Salam Hangat Selalu,

PapaMamaBahagia

Andry Kurniawan

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