selamat datang pada sebuah kehidupan baru.........

Bismillah...

Di sebalik kehangatan hawa pulau ini, saya kira masih bersisa ketenangan yang kadang kala sering dilupakan atau dibuat-buat lupa.

Pulau ini masih ada damainya, biarpun hati ini merintih tatkala melepaskan pandangan sepi pada berlalunya kelibat keluarga tersayang siang tadi.

Apapun realitinya Isnin ini bermulalah kehidupan baru kami semua , secara ringkasnya ranjau baru bakal ditemui, dihadapi dan di"tabahi". Tiada sesalan kerna telah kupilih jalan itu.

Berbunga hati dalam rintihan.. Semuanya kerana kanak- kanak itu. Siapa kanak- kanak itu? Kanak-kanak yang bakal menyambut kami semua sepanjang tempoh itu . Untung bagi kami , "posting paediatrics" memang menyenangkan hati, walaupun kerengsaan tetap ada.

Semoga semester baru berjalan dengan lancar....
Selamat bermujahadah buat kawan-kawan semua.

" tidaklah orang muslim ditimpa kesukaran dan keletihan. dukacita dan sedih ,penderitaan dan kemurungan , bahkan duri yang menusuknya sekali pun, melainkan ALLAH MENGAMPUNI DOSA-DOSANYA" ( HR al-bukhari dan Muslim)

webnotes yang menarik :

the law of understanding

Bismillah..
Alhamdulillah...things over but another series of similar events are inviting me.
I'm getting to know the "LAW" better after few weeks indulging in it, understanding the origin, application and its significance. Though only 0.0000001% or may be less learnt during those period, i simply can draw my own conclusion which only me knows that. "A little bit sad for being ignorant and not realising the truth that lies behind a lie"...Legal medicine is interesting, not only because of its sui generic thingy but also because YOU MUST know that. A blend of ethics and principles which may not make it taste like a real juice...Anyway, just want to share something gotten from one site which i think useful and very practical.. It is a real law , most important not a man made one!!!

read more from here:

http://www.thenutgraph.com/islam-beyond-hudud

hopefully one day, dreams come true!
Amin...

To whom it may concern.....

Preparing for the realities of marriage
(source: Islamicity Bulletin)

How ludicrous would it be for a person to hold a grand opening for a new business then leave for vacation the next day or go to a job interview without having read the job description? Equally absurd is the way many people get married each year without any knowledge of or preparation for the realities of marriage. Couples make elaborate wedding and honeymoon plans but none for a life together. Additionally, many are looking for spouses to marry without looking at their responsibilities in a marriage.

Based on fairy tales spun by the media and pop culture, young women dream of finding their Prince Charming and living happily ever after. We think that once we are married, everything will just sort itself out. Some of us think that marriage is a solution or an escape or that our spouses will "complete us." Compounding this are values of mainstream society and their effect on the psyche of adolescents. Years of struggling with issues of dating and pre-marital sex in school as well as constant bombardment through films and television of unrealistic images of what love, sex and marriage are have affected our outlook on marriage and the opposite sex. So, when the time comes to get married, we often carry unrealistic expectations of what being married will be like and how our spouses will be.

Many young Muslims are not prepared for marriage and have not cultivated the skills to create a lasting relationship. While the general American population has the world's highest divorce rate, 48.6 percent, Muslims in the United States come in not too far behind at 33 percent. One in three Muslims marriage here will end in divorce- not surprising considering we are living in a "divorce culture" where independence and individual happiness often come first. When the marriage does not fulfill the individual's needs, the marriage is questioned. Terms such as "starter marriage" are becoming more common in the Muslim community as divorces among newlywed couples, after only months of being married, increase. Furthermore, couples in multicultural marriages are experiencing complex issues because of their background differences and often find little support from their families and communities because of certain cultural ideas about marriage. These couples often become resigned to ending the marriage. Newlyweds sometimes don't readily acknowledge that they must work on the marriage for it to survive. Many divorce when marriage is not whhat they expected or harder than they imagined. Divorce is now considered a plausible option among young Muslims, unlike the generation before them. Now, more than ever, we should prepare ourselves and our children for the realities of marriage. Preparing for marriage is as important as having an accurate road map before driving cross country.



Preparing for marriage is more than searching for a spouse; it begins with discovering who you are as a person.


Undergo Self-Reflection

Preparing for marriage is more than searching for a spouse; it begins with discovering who you are as a person and what you will bring to a marriage. Identify what innate beliefs you hold because these are the things that are least likely to change about you. Your values and beliefs are your compass in life and will determine your lifestyle and the choices you make. Understanding what is important to you clarifies the type of person with whom you will be compatible. Reflection is a process of self-growth that can be difficult, but it shows maturity and a true understanding of the intensity of marriage. Ask yourself these questions: "What is my personal set of life values?" "What are my fears?" "What are my strengths?" "What are my weaknesses?" Identifying your flaws is equally important because it provides you with personal goals for self-improvement. It will also provide your future spouse insight into your weaknesses, as well as the things that may never change about you.

Establish Compatibility

Before you can determine the type of person you are compatible with, you first need to understand what compatibility is. It doesn't mean you will be exactly like your spouse, but rather, that you share many similarities and hold mutual respect for your differences, It is important to find someone who shares your core values and beliefs and whose long-term goals correspond with yours. Having complementary values and goals helps married couples grow closer to Allah because they will constantly strive in the same direction and have fewer disagreements in their marriage. True and realistic love will be found in the everydayness of marriage when sharing common interests and doing interesting things together. But, be careful if you find yourself making excuses for incompatibility or you start believing that the other person will change once you're married. People rarely change. Qualities in a potential spouse that do not align with your core values and beliefs are red flags because that person is about as unlikely to change as you are. When making a decision about an element of incompatibility, ask yourself; "Can I maintain my beliefs while married to this person even if he/she doesn't change?" Acknowledge that you simply can't control your spouse's way of being. Being able to maintain mutual respect for your differences will likely prevent many tensions in the marriage.

Understand You- Expectations Ascertain the expectations you hold for marriage. Many couples enter a marriage with unspoken and usually unconscious expectations of what their spouse is going to provide and fulfill. Honestly examining your expectations of marriage and your potential spouse is a necessary step in preventing disappointment. Ask yourself, "What do I think marriage will be like?" "Who and what have influenced these expectations?"

"What is my parents' relationship like?" "How does this play a role in what I expect in my marriage?" "What does the term 'husband' mean to me?" The answers to these types of questions will help spotlight your expectations about marriage and the basis for those expectations. Understanding your expectations and assessing how realistic they are is a vital step toward helping you enter into marriage with open eyes.

Communicate

Everybody should acquire two critical skills before getting married:

Communication and conflict resolution. These are essential to making a marriage successful. You and your potential spouse will begin to understand how you each communicate as you get to know one another. Not communicating and misinterpreting communication will cause numerous problems in a marriage. This is the time to ask yourself; "Am I good at communicating my feelings and thoughts?" "How do I resolve a conflict: do I ignore it, solve it?" "Am I a good listener?" Understanding your approach and identifying your weaknesses are valuable because marriage carries the responsibility to communicate your needs and frustrations with your spouse. It is equally important to understand your spouse's communication style and conflict resolution skills and how compatible they are to yours. Ultimately, the effort you and your spouse put in this area will form the backbone of your marriage.

Entering into a marriage is a time to grow as an individual and to grow interdependently with a spouse. Having the courage to discover your expectations and weaknesses and taking responsibility for the direction of your marriage requires a mature approach. To grow spiritually in your marriage requires that you learn to be less selfish and more loving, even during times of conflict. Move beyond the fantasy and unrealisttic expectations and realize that marriage is about making a conscious choice to love and care for your spouse-even when you do not feel like it. A marriage needs love, support, tolerance, honesty, respect, humility, realistic expectations and a sense of humor to be successful.

These values will help a marriage survive conflict, disappointment and problems. Marriage is a beautiful relationship that Muslims should enter with an understanding of all of its dimensions. If Prophet Muhammad reminds us that marriage is "half our faith," then how can we as Muslims go into something this central with a lack of preparation and understanding? We can only be good spouses once we understand what it means to be married and mentally prepare ourselves for the amazing journey.


Munira Lekovic Ezzeldine is the author of Before the Wedding: 150 Questions for Muslims to Ask before Getting Married. Munira has also written two Islamic Studies textbooks for the Bureau of Islamic and Arabic Education. She received her undergraduate degree from UCLA and is currently pursuing her master's degree in Marriage and Family Counseling at California State University, Fullerton. For the last eight years, Munira has worked with youth groups, teaching classes and mentoring. Her extensive speaking on the topics of marriage and gender equity coupled with her experience of being raised as a Muslim in the United States gives her the ability to connect with the young Muslim generation. Munira is happily married and has two children.


to my sis: cant wait for ur walimah....
to myself: be prepared...

Hidup ini sepi?

Bismillah..

Salam tahun baru Islam 1430H dan tahun baru Masihi 2009..
Sewajarnya dengan pertambahan angka pada tahun, maka azam baru pun dinukilkan dengan harapan bakal dilaksana, beserta lirikan pada azam tahun lalu degan persoalan dibenak," terlaksanakan sudah?"

1429H atau 2008 bukan benda yang sama, hakikatnya ia dilihat sama oleh pandangan mata yang tidak menafsirkan dengan hati. Namun tahun lalu meninggalkan diri ini dengan seribu satu kenangan pahit dan manis. Kenapa pahit dahulu? Bukan manis yang meneutralkan keadaan. Bolehkan manisan meneutralkan kepahitan? Jawapan ada pada anda.
Masa lalu bukan untuk dikenang! Tidak benar kenyataan itu.Masa lalu adalah kenangan yang harus dikenang sebagai pengajar terbaik dalam kehidupan, sebagai pendorong untuk lebih ke hadapan. Saya lihat matahari terbit, saya yakin ada ruang untuk ditempati! Ya itulah yang betul. Berfikir secara optimis dan meletakkan sepenuh keyakinan dan harapan pada Al-Khaliq. Tidak wajar menyalahkan Pencipta tatkala ujian kehidupan adalah nilaian pada nilai syukur dan tabah dalam diri. Tidak benar sama sekali menyesali diri andai "ter"alpa tatkala 1001 nikmat yang tidak disedari kurang pantas disyukuri. Jika anda pernah terfikir sebegitu, sedarlah anda, anda bukan berseorangan. Kenang kembali Sirah Nabawiyyah bagaimana Nabi Nuh putus asa dengan ummat baginda lantaran selama 950 tahun, ragu ummat baginda masih ada?

"Sesungguhnya tidak akan seorang drp kaumnya mengikutimu dan beriman kecuali mereka yang telah mengikutimu dan beriman lebih dahulu, maka jgnlah engkau bersedih hati karena apa yang mereka perbuatkan."
Dengan penegasan firman Allah itu, lenyaplah sisa harapan Nabi Nuh dari kaumnya dan habislah kesabarannya. Ia memohon kepada Allah agar menurunkan Azab-Nya di atas kaumnya yang berkepala batu seraya berseru:"Ya Allah! Jgnlah Engkau biarkan seorang pun drp orang-orang kafir itu hidup dan tinggal di atas bumi ini. Mareka akan berusaha menyesatkan hamba-hamba-Mu, jika Engkau biarkan mereka tinggal dan mereka tidak akan melahirkan dan menurunkan selain anak-anak yang berbuat maksiat dan anak-anak yang kafir spt.mereka."

Lihatlah sahabat, apakah solusi Nabi Nuh selepas itu? Baginda membina kapal bukan? kerana apa? kerana perintah Allah swt.

Itu satu contoh, beribu-ribu contoh lagi yang patinya adalah iktibar berguna buat saya dan anda. Maka janganlah putus asa dengan rahmat Allah.

Saya bukanlah orang baik, jauh sekali orang terbaik untuk meletakkan ukuran pada diri.

Banyaknya kuntuman bunga di jalanan, tapi awas durinya menyukarkan anda untuk memetiknnya. Tingginya gunung dilingkari awan biru, gamitan diri untuk mendaki. Tapi awas perjalanan tidak rata sebagaimana anda fikirkan. Begitulah sahabat, jalan hidup sukar sekali pada individu yang merasainya.

Nikmat sebenar lahir pada ketinggian syukur. Usah dikhuatiri pada esok yang belum pasti, kerana janjiNya sentiasa benar.

Lebihkan usaha anda sebagaimana anda lihat saya berusaha. Hebatnya kuasa Allah, anda meletakkan diri anda di bawah, tapi Allah menjadikan hati-hati orang lain memandang anda seakan-akan anda di atas. Pandangan individu sedemikian pada saya dan pada anda, saya kira adalah pandangan telus. lahir dari dasar hati mereka. Bukan dibuat-buat tapi ikhlasnya mereka hanya Allah yang tahu.

Kalam ternokhtah, ucapan jazakallah buat sahabat anda dan saya yang masih menilai diri saya dan anda dengan nilaian baik. Moga nilaian mereka tidak membekas kotor pada dasar hati saya dan anda dengan mazmumah yang saya tidak pernah jemput. Anda pun begitu.........................

Kita pernah bersama,
Menempuh onak dan duka ,
Tidak pernah putus asa,
Walau dugaan datang melanda.

Dikau pernah bertanya,
Bila bahagia akan tiba,
Ku berkata bersabarlah,
Serahkan saja pada yang ESA.

Bila masanya menjelma,
Kejayaan akan tiba,
Namun tidak mungkin ku lupa,
Kenangan indah kita bersama.

Menempuh onak cabaran,
Dan liku hidup yang panjang,
Tidak mungkin hidup ini sepi,
Selagi ku masih di sini.

Kini terungkai sudah,
Kisah hidup kita ,
Berbekal taat dan sabar,
Pastikan berjaya.

Devotees- Bersama-

Palestine: who should be blamed for?

Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian president, has blamed Hamas for triggering Israel's deadly raids on Gaza, by not extending a six-month truce with the Jewish state.

He also blamed Hamas, which controls the coastal Gaza Strip territory, for disrupting national unity talks that could have paved the way for general and presidential elections.

"We have warned of this grave danger," he said in Cairo, Egypt, on Sunday.

"We talked to them [Hamas] and we told them, 'please, we ask you, do not end the truce. Let the truce continue and not stop", so that we could have avoided what happened."

However, Fawzi Barhoum, a Hamas spokesman, said he was "surprised" by Abbas's claim.

"He downplayed the sufferings of our people in Gaza and belittled their pains, providing justification of the holocaust and war waged by Israel," he said.

Abbas, whose Fatah movement has been at loggerheads with Hamas, said maintaining the truce could have helped the Palestinians avoid the raids, which have so far killed more than 280 people over the past two days.

Nour Odeh, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Ramallah, reported that senior figures had supported Abbas in his call on Hamas not to abandon the truce.

She added that during an Israeli election year, a hardline position towards Palestinians has always won more seats, making the timing particularly risky for Hamas.

"Not just Abbas, but people close to the circles of decision-making in key Arab states, said that Hamas was warned that breaking the ceasefire or not keeping it would result in mayhem and bloodshed," she reported.

Ayman Mohyeldin, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Gaza, said the stance at all levels of the Hamas leadership was the same: "They will remain defiant in the face of any attacks and that the movement is larger that an single assault or attack.

"That they were democratically elected by the Palestinian people, and only through the ballot box will they leave the political scene."

Hamas argues that Israel violated the truce by failing to ease its 18-month blockade on the Gaza Strip.

'Inaction'

Egypt's foreign minister has also blamed Hamas for preventing hundreds of wounded Palestinians from entering Egypt via the Rafah crossing for treatment - the only crossing that does not border Israel.

Ahmed Aboul Gheit said the wounded were "barred from crossing" and he blamed "those in control of Gaza" for putting the lives of the injured at risk.
But Barhoum denied the accusations, saying that Aboul Gheit was taking advantage of the "massacre and the suffering", to "cover up the state of inaction in Egypt".

Odeh said two lines were being taken on the Palestinian-Israeli issue with Arab states divided between those supporting the Hamas line of armed resistance and not recognising Israel, and those that preferred non-confrontational options.

"More now than ever, they are divided along regional lines of competition of interests in which states are using the Palestinian paper to tug between one another and gain that regional influence.

"There is a lot of anger toward the helplessness and the realisation that in such dire times, Palestinians have been unable to set aside their political differences."

Ground operation

Dozens of tanks and personnel carriers were seen parked at several points near the boundary between Israel and Gaza on Sunday after Israel's defence minister warned it could launch a ground offensive in addition to its air bombardment.

Ehud Barak vowed to "expand and deepen" the bombing raids, unleashed in retaliation for persistent rocket fire into the south of the country from Gaza.

"If it's necessary to deploy ground forces to defend our citizens, we will do so," his spokesman quoted him as saying on Sunday.

The cabinet gave the green light to call up 6,500 reserve soldiers, a senior official told reporters after the meeting.

Jacky Rowland, Al Jazeera's corespondent in Jerusalem, said: "This move gives the Israeli army a lot of leeway to commit troops to this operation as and when they see fit.

"If the fundamental objective of Israel is to change the situation on the ground, clearly they will not be able to do that from the air, they will need to commit ground troops.

"When we look at the full range of air strikes, it does seem that any ground operation would indeed be far-ranging and involve hundreds of troops."


source: Al-Jazeera
Doa Qunut Nazilah

اللهمَّ إناَّ نجعَلُكَ فِى نُحُورِ أعدَاءِناَ وَ نَعُوذُ بِكَ مِن شُرُورِهِم اللهم بَدِّد شَملَهُم و فَرِّق جَمعَهُم وَ شَتِّت كَلِمَتَهُم وَزَلزِل أَقدَامَهُم وَ سَلِّط عَلَيهِم كَلباًَ مِن كِلاَبِكَ يا قَهاَّر يا جَباَّر يا مُنتَقِم يا الله يا الله يا الله

اللهم يا مُنزِلَ الكِتاَبِ ويا مُجرِيَ السَّحاَبِ ويا هاَزِمَ الأَحزَابِ إِهزِمهُم إِهزِمهُم إِهزِمهُم وَانصُرناَ عَلَيهِم

Ya Allah,

Sesungguhnya kami meletakkan-Mu di batang-batang leher musuh-musuh kami,

Dan kami berlindung dengan-Mu daripada kejahatan-kejahatan mereka,

Ya Allah,

Leburkanlah kumpulan-kumpulan mereka,

Pecah-belahkanlah dan kacau-bilaukanlah persatuan mereka,

Goncangkan pendirian mereka,

Dan hantarkanlah anjing-anjing Kamu kepada mereka

Wahai Tuhan Yang Gagah Perkasa,

Wahai Tuhan Yang Maha Menghukum,

Wahai Tuhan Yang bersifat Murka,

Ya Allah, Ya Allah, Ya Allah,

Wahai Tuhan yang menurunkan kitab,

Wahai Tuhan yang mengarakkan awan,

Wahai Tuhan yang menewaskan bala tentera al-ahzab,

Kalahkan mereka,

Kalahkan mereka,

Kalahkan mereka,

Dan menangkan kami ke atas mereka.

Ameen...

p/s: Bilakah akan berakhir andai ummat tidak bersatu

COUNTING DAYS...

VIVA for ENT : list will be out tomorrow morning and must be there by 9.30am. Viva session right after that! Huh, another miserable night...
anyway, just had bachelor's party for one of my housemates, she's getting married soon...very very soon...congratulations M....may the mawaddah and mahabbah be yours...

counting days for the viva list outa..
counting days to go back ( KL)
counting days to PD
counting days to go home (my beloved hometown)
counting days...and days...
until the breathing stop..
so use the time and days given by HIM to the fullest...
you are alive today for improvement!!!!!!


all the best..

when people doubt .....

Date: 16 December 08 ( sis birthday's anniversary)
viva ophtalmology
Huh, my ID was listed. First time in my life. Called up for VIVA...hikmah is always there for those who think...
However it went on well but not that smooth......






Summary:

Examiner: How are you?
Me: I'm good.
Examiner: What is commensal ? ( i c no introduction man)
Me: It is one organism carrying pathogen...
Examiner: what do u understand by bacterial commensal.
Me: sorry, commensal is a normal bacteria in our body, but can become virulent if there is stimulus. ( what an answer? )
Examiner: Yes, so commensal is our normal flora. So how commensal in our intestine work?
Me: ( this is ophtal session..anyway ) Ya, they protect our intestinal epithelial layer by neutralizing acid etc. It gives a protective mechanism to the intestine. ( i dont think while saying this)
Examiner: ok..so what do u know about toxoplasmosis. .what is the name which affect eye.
Me: (think and think). Sorry i cant remember
Examiner: toxoplasmosis gondii
Me: ya.............( long sigh)
Examiner: How do they infect eye?
Me: it presents in the cat's faeces. When it comes in contact with human, it will infect eye causing....
Examiner: directly?
Me: No, it is when the faeces become in contact with food and human ingest food , so at the same time they will transmit to human?
Examiner: In the form of?
Me: Egg
Examiner: what group of organism toxo is?
Me: protozoa
Examiner: what else toxo can affect human.
Me: hmmm..through vertical transmission ...from mother to baby from vaginal delivery?
Examiner: u mean directly cause infection?
Me: not really it can affect the baby throughout the gestation period.
Examiner: How?
Me: mother and foetus sharing the same circulation, such as placental .......
Examiner: yes, through placental. Ok whatelse can vertical transmission cause infection to the eye?
Me: such as ophtalmia neonatarum ( why do u start off with this?)
Examiner: whatelse in ophtalmia neonatarum?
Me: chlaymidia...and is that CMV is one?
Examiner: yes chlaymidia is one, whatelse?There are few more...(smiling with my CMV answer)
Me: im not sure
Examiner: ok how do u diagnose toxo?
Me: through blood ..im not sure about serology test for toxo.
Examiner: so which antibody rise?
Me: IgM if acute, IgG if chronic ( bluppp)
Examiner: so which one transmitted through placental?
Me: IgG ...im not quite sure..but it is either IgG or IgM..but i think IgG ..
Examiner: so in baby which one is high ? IgG or IgM...
Me: errr..IgM if acute, IgG if long enough..( huhu)
Examiner: ok..how toxo can cause to the eye?
Me: it can cause retinitis then eventually optic atrophy...
Examiner: Ok...tell me the causes of corneal ulcer?
Me: firstly trauma, second......
Examiner: (stopping me)no i want the agent?
Me: ageing?
Examiner: agent.
Me: ok, it can be caused by bacteria, virus, fungus, protozoa..
Examiner: what protozoa..
Me: ( pause ).....is that toxo is one? (pause)...ya acanthamoeba..
Examiner: yes, so who normally got this?
Me: contact lens wearer.
Examiner: tell me how do u diagnose fungal corneal ulcer?
Me: first we put dye, then see under the blue light.......using slit lamp..
Examiner: No, we have done with that.
Time's out!!!!!!!!!! ( Miss P said)
Examiner: never mind tell me how do you diagnose fungal?
Examiner 2: like another organism, how do u investigate?
Me: ya, scrap the ulcer then do culture and sensitivity. Sensitivity is to determine antifungal agent
Examiner: yes, that is the investigation.Ok u may leave now.
Me: thank you.

that was the end of my viva. Middle of the session ( pooling of my precious tears!!)
that was when my meibomian gland , conjunctival goblet cell and lacrimal gland were united to give away lipid, mucus and aqueous respectively....

all the best for my ENT tomorrow....
included below some info on toxoplasmosis GONDII...

How It Spreads
People can catch toxoplasmosis from:

* touching or coming into contact with infected cat feces (cats get the infection from eating infected rodents, birds, or other small animals)
* eating raw or undercooked meat that's contaminated
* eating uncooked, unwashed fruits or vegetables that have been contaminated by manure
* being born with it (a woman who gets a toxoplasmosis infection while pregnant may pass the parasite on to her unborn child through the bloodstream)

Although infection doesn't normally spread from person to person except through pregnancy, in rare instances toxoplasmosis can contaminate blood transfusions and organs donated for transplantation.
Signs and Symptoms

Toxoplasmosis passes from animals to humans, sometimes without causing any symptoms. When kids do have symptoms, they vary depending on the child's age and the immune system's response to the infection. (As with humans, infected cats often don't show any signs of a toxoplasmosis infection.)

Toxoplasmosis infections in people fall into three basic patterns:

1. congenital toxoplasmosis, in which a child becomes infected before birth
2. toxoplasmosis in otherwise healthy kids (with the same symptoms a pregnant woman may have)
3. toxoplasmosis in kids with weakened immune systems

Congenital Toxoplasmosis

When a pregnant woman (even one who has no symptoms) catches toxoplasmosis during pregnancy and remains untreated, there's a chance that she could pass the infection on to her developing fetus. Babies who become infected during their mother's first trimester tend to have the most severe symptoms.

However, it's rare that a woman who got toxoplasmosis before getting pregnant will pass the infection on to her unborn baby because she (and, therefore, her baby) will have built up immunity to the infection. It can occur, though, if a pregnant woman who's had a previous infection becomes immunocompromised and her infection is reactivated. Generally, it's probably a good idea to wait to try to get pregnant until at least 6 months after a toxoplasmosis infection.

Up to 90% of children born with congenital toxoplasmosis have no symptoms early in infancy, but a large percentage will show signs of infection months to years later. The few who show clear signs of infection at birth or shortly after may be born prematurely or are unusually small at birth.

Other signs and symptoms, if there are any, may include:

* fever
* swollen glands (lymph nodes)
* jaundice (yellowed skin and eyes caused by abnormal levels of the liver chemical bilirubin)
* an unusually large or small head
* rash
* bruises or bleeding under the skin
* anemia
* enlarged liver or spleen

Some babies with congenital toxoplasmosis have brain and nervous system abnormalities that cause:

* seizures
* limp muscle tone
* feeding difficulties
* hearing loss
* mental retardation

They're also at high risk for eye damage involving the retina (the light-sensitive lining at the back of the eye responsible for sight), resulting in severe vision problems.

If a child is born with congenital toxoplasmosis and remains untreated during infancy, there's almost always some sign of the infection (often eye damage) by early childhood to adolescence.
Toxoplasmosis in Otherwise Healthy Kids

A healthy child who becomes infected with toxoplasmosis may have no symptoms of infection or only a few swollen glands that:

* usually appear in the neck
* are sometimes tender to the touch
* may become larger and smaller over several months

Most kids won't experience any long-term problems if they go undiagnosed and untreated.
Toxoplasmosis in Kids With Weakened Immune Systems

Kids whose immune systems are weakened (for example, by AIDS, cancer, or medications taken after organ transplants) are at special risk for severe toxoplasmosis infections. Especially in children with AIDS, toxoplasmosis can attack the brain and nervous system, causing toxoplasmic encephalitis (an inflammation of the brain) with symptoms that include:

* fever
* seizures
* headache
* psychosis (a type of severe mental illness)
* problems with vision, speech, movement, or thinking

Duration

Although toxoplasmosis parasites may grow and multiply within a week of entering a person's body, it may be weeks or months before symptoms of infection appear (if they appear at all).

Once someone becomes infected with toxoplasmosis, the infection remains in the body for life, usually in a latent (inactive) form that won't cause side effects or harm. The infection can be reactivated, however, if the immune system becomes compromised by an HIV infection or cancer therapy.

In a child with a healthy immune system, mild symptoms of toxoplasmosis (such as swollen glands) usually pass within a few months, even without medical treatment. But kids born with severe congenital toxoplasmosis may have permanent vision problems or mental retardation. And in a child with a weakened immune system, toxoplasmosis can be fatal.
Diagnosis

Doctors can, but rarely do, diagnose toxoplasmosis through laboratory tests that check for microscopic parasites in the blood, spinal fluid, amniotic fluid, placenta, lymph nodes, bone marrow, or other body tissues.

More frequently doctors order blood tests to measure the level of antibodies (substances that are part of the body's defensive immune reaction) produced to fight the parasites.

Sophisticated new genetic tests can identify the DNA-containing genes of toxoplasmosis parasites once they've invaded the body. These tests are especially useful for checking the amniotic fluid for evidence of congenital toxoplasmosis in a fetus. Obstetricians may use ultrasounds to help diagnose congenital toxoplasmosis. But these tests aren't 100% accurate and can lead to false-positive results.
Treatment

Unless someone has a weakened immune system or is pregnant, there's often no need to treat a toxoplasmosis infection — symptoms (such as swollen glands) usually go away on their own in a few weeks or months. However, kids should always be checked by a doctor because swollen glands can be a sign of other illnesses.

If a pregnant woman develops an infection, a treatment plan will be developed in consultation with her doctor and an infectious disease specialist. Research has shown that treating the mother can help decrease the severity of the disease in the infant but won't necessarily prevent transmission of the infection from mother to child.

Children born with congenital toxoplasmosis are treated with different combinations of anti-toxoplasmosis medications, usually for 1 year after birth. A specialist typically will determine which medications to use and for how long.

In healthy older kids who develop serious toxoplasmosis infections, treatment usually lasts 4 to 6 weeks (or at least 2 weeks after symptoms are gone). Kids with weakened immune systems often need to be hospitalized when they develop toxoplasmosis, and those with AIDS may need to take anti-toxoplasmosis medication for life.
When to Call the Doctor

Call your doctor immediately if your child develops symptoms of toxoplasmosis and:

* is already being treated for AIDS or cancer
* has a condition that affects the immune system
* has been taking medications that weaken the immune system

Also call the doctor if your otherwise healthy child develops any of the symptoms of toxoplasmosis.

If you're pregnant, call your doctor immediately if you notice even one swollen gland, especially if you've been exposed to cats or have eaten raw or undercooked meat.
Prevention

If your cat is kept indoors and never fed raw or undercooked meat, then your family's feline probably has a low risk of catching or spreading toxoplasmosis. Still, you can also catch it from eating raw meats or uncooked produce that's contaminated.