Programas de controle da toxoplasmose congênita

Abstract

Congenital toxoplasmosis can cause miscarriage and neurological and/or eye damage to the fetus. Since Austria and France established the prenatal screening, the prevalence of toxoplasmosis has declined from 50% to 35% and 84% to 44%, respectively. Other countries, such as the United Kingdom, have educational practices to reduce the risk of infection in seronegative pregnant women. In Brazil, prenatal screening is carried out in the states of Mato Grosso do Sul and Minas Gerais and the cities of Curitiba and Porto Alegre. In Londrina, state of Parana, the "Health Surveillance Program for Toxoplasmosis Acquired during Pregnancy and Congenital Toxoplasmosis" was established, which is based on serological screening, advising on prevention measures and quarterly serological monitoring in pregnant women that are initially seronegative, in addition to the monitoring of pregnant women and children with acute infection and case notification. In the first four years of implementation, the program evaluation showed a 63% reduction in the number of pregnant women and 42% in the number of children referred to reference services, resulting in the opening of vacancies for the care of patients with other diseases. As for medications, there was a 62% reduction in consumption of folic acid and 67% of sulfadiazine. Moreover, the definition of the protocols resulted in the standardization of care and safety for the decision-making by physicians. Therefore, as there are several protocols individualized in various departments and regions, the establishment of an ideal, consensual conduct with technical support, will result in implementing measures that will certainly save public resources, with the decrease in congenital toxoplasmosis.

Prevalence and risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection among pregnant and postpartum women attended at public healthcare facilities in the City of Niterói, State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

“…Several other authors who have studied toxoplasmosis among pregnant women have also found similar results 18,22,23,25,35 . These results show the importance of social and educational investments as preventive measures 36 , not only against toxoplasmosis but also against other diseases. In relation to histories of abortions, there was no significant association between occurrences of previous abortions and seroprevalence for toxoplasmosis (p=0.212).…”

Congenital toxoplasmosis: perception of knowledge and primary prevention measures among healthcare professionals and pregnant women treated in public healthcare facilities

“…Since 2009, a health surveillance program for gestational and congenital toxoplasmosis, which has health education as one of its pillars, has been developed and implemented in some municipalities. This program revealed significant improvement in the care of pregnant women and children with suspected or confirmed toxoplasmosis [29,30]. However, toxoplasmosis prevention methods are not homogeneous among public health services and, in Niterói, there were no programs for promoting the update of professionals about congenital toxoplasmosis prevention, which may explain the difference in the results.…”

Toxoplasmosis-Related Knowledge Among Pregnant and Postpartum Women Attended in Public Health Units in Niterói, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

“…The definition of the protocols resulted in standardized assistance procedures and greater safety for decision-making by the doctors 24 .…”

“…The risks of fetal infection are directly associated with disease prevalence in the population, and with the number of women in fertile age not infected and susceptible to infection during pregnancy 23 . Thus, the importance of preventive actions should be emphasized, as well as the early diagnosis and treatment, to prevent or attenuate fetal infection 4,9,18,24,31,36 .…”