Listeria infection is a foodborne illness that can be very serious for pregnant women and people with impaired immune systems. Listeria infections most commonly acquired from eating processed meat and unpasteurized dairy products.
Healthy people rarely become ill from listeria infection, but this disease can be fatal to unborn babies and newborns. People who have weakened immune systems are also at higher risk of life-threatening complications. Antibiotic treatment can help treat the infection with listeria.
Listeria bacteria can survive in the cooling or freezing cabinets. People who are at high risk for serious listeria infections should avoid eating foods most likely to contain listeria bacteria.
Listeria Infection Causes
Listeria bacterium found in soil, water, and animal waste. Humans usually become infected by eating:
1. Raw vegetables that have been contaminated from soil or from manure used as fertilizer contaminated
2. Infected meat
3. Milk or unpasteurized food
4. Certain processed foods, such as soft cheeses, hot dogs and processed meats that have been contaminated after processing
Unborn baby can become infected with listeria from the mother through the placenta. Breastfeeding is not considered a potential cause of listeria infection.
Listeria Infection Symptoms
If developing a listeria infection may experience symptoms such as:
1. Fever
2. Muscle pain
3. Nausea
4. Diarrhea
Symptoms may begin several days after eating contaminated food, but may take as long as two months before the first signs and symptoms of infection begin.
If listeria infection spreads to the nervous system, signs and symptoms include:
1. Headache
2. Stiff neck
3. Confusion or changes in alertness
4. Loss of balance
5. Convulsions
Symptoms during pregnancy and newborn
During pregnancy, the listeria infection tends to only cause mild symptoms in the mother. Infants may die suddenly before birth or experiencing life-threatening infections in the first few days after birth.
As in adults, signs and symptoms of listeria infection in newborns can be mild, but may include:
1. Little interest in eating
2. Irritability
3. Fever
4. Throw up
Listeria Infection Treatment
Listeria infection treatment varies, depending on the severity of signs and symptoms. Most people with mild symptoms not requiring treatment. More severe infections can be treated with antibiotics. During pregnancy, rapid antibiotic treatment can help prevent infection in infants. Newborns who have Listeria infection can receive a combination of antibiotics.
