[CONGENITAL TOXOPLASMOSIS: AWARENESS ENABLES PREVENTION, EARLY TREATMENT, AND IMPROVED OUTCOME]

Infection with the intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii is a common worldwide infection and is often asymptomatic. A unique risk group that requires identification of such infection is fetuses, and the earlier the infection, the more severe the damage. As pregnancy progresses, the risk of fetal infection increases. The parasite causes inflammatory processes in the placenta, fetal brain, eyes, and heart. The range of damage includes miscarriages, neurological and psychiatric disorders, hearing impairment, visual impairment, and cardiovascular disorders. In order to reduce the incidence of toxoplasmosis in children, awareness and preventive measures are required. Primary prevention is carried out by hand hygiene and avoiding certain foods. Secondary prevention is carried out by early detection through serological screening tests, and tertiary prevention is carried out by early treatment of mothers who have been infected with the parasite, or by testing newborns, who may be asymptomatic at birth but can still develop serious illness. It has been found that in Israel, the relative rate of severe clinical manifestations in children is higher than in European countries. The combination of risk groups, the lack of screening tests for pregnant women, and the lack of appropriate treatment can explain this observation. The aim of this review is to raise awareness of congenital toxoplasmosis and the possibilities of prevention and reduction of harm to fetuses and children. It also provides up-to-date information and recommendations for policy change.