Listeriosis is a type of food poisoning. It is caused by Listeria monocytogenes bacteria. This kind of bacteria is found in soil and water. You can get infected by eating uncooked vegetables and meats, unpasteurized dairy products, and processed foods such as cold cuts. The risk of serious illness is highest for pregnant women, newborns, and people who have weak immune systems.
In pregnant women, the infection can cause problems. These problems may include miscarriage, premature birth, or stillbirth. Babies can be born with the infection if their mothers eat contaminated food during pregnancy. Antibiotics can often prevent infection of the fetus or newborn.
Symptoms include fever, muscle aches, and sometimes nausea or diarrhea. In some cases, symptoms such as headache, stiff neck, and confusion can occur. Pregnant women may have only mild, flu-like symptoms.
The symptoms of listeriosis include fever, muscle aches, and sometimes nausea or diarrhea. If infection spreads to the nervous system, symptoms such as headache, stiff neck, confusion, loss of balance, or convulsions can occur.
If you are pregnant and get listeriosis, antibiotics can often prevent infection of the fetus or newborn. Babies who have listeriosis receive the same antibiotics as adults, although a combination of antibiotics is often used until your doctor is certain the cause is listeriosis.
An otherwise healthy person who is not pregnant typically does not need treatment. Symptoms will usually go away within a few weeks.
You can prevent listeriosis by practicing safe food handling.
If you are pregnant:
Listeriosis is diagnosed based on a medical history and physical exam. Your doctor will ask you questions about your symptoms, foods you have recently eaten, and your work and home environments. A blood test or spinal fluid test may be done to confirm the diagnosis.
The bacteria that causes listeriosis (L. monocytogenes) is found in soil and water.
Listeriosis is food poisoning caused by eating foods contaminated with the Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) bacterium. In pregnant women, the infection can result in miscarriage, premature delivery, serious infection of the newborn, or even stillbirth.
Listeriosis affects mainly pregnant women, newborns, the elderly, and adults with impaired immune systems. Healthy adults and children sometimes are infected with L. monocytogenes, but they rarely become seriously ill. Babies can be born with listeriosis if their mothers eat contaminated food during pregnancy.
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