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Up to half of the developing babies who become infected with toxoplasmosis during the pregnancy ae born early (prematurely). Congenital toxoplasmosis can damage the baby's eyes, nervous system, skin, and ears.
Often, there are signs of infection in the baby at birth. However, newborns with milder infections may not have symptoms or problems for months or even years. If they are not treated, almost all develop problems (especially in the eyes) when they become adolescents.
Symptoms may include:
Brain and nervous system damage ranges from very mild to severe, and may include:
The health care provider will examine the baby. The baby may have:
Tests that may be done during pregnancy include:
After birth, the following tests may be done on the baby:
Petersen E. Toxoplasmosis. Semin Fetal Neonatal Med. 2007 Jun;12(3):214-23.
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