Listeriosis

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Antibodies

In infants, symptoms of listeriosis may be seen in the first few days of life and may include:

• Loss of appetite
• Lethargy
• Jaundice
• Vomiting
• Respiratory distress (usually pneumonia)
• Shock
• Skin rash
• Increased pressure inside the skull (due to meningitis) possibly causing suture separation

Late-appearing infection in the infant (symptoms appear age 5 days or older) and infection in children is often seen as meningitis.

In adults, the disease may take many forms depending on what organ or organ systems are infected. It may occur as meningitis, pneumonia, septicemia, and endocarditis, or in milder form as abscesses, skin lesion, and conjunctivitis.

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If a pregnant woman becomes infected, it can lead to:

• Stillbirth
• Death of a newborn within a few hours of birth

Laboratory tests may be done to detect the bacteria in amniotic fluid, blood, feces, and urine. A CSF culture may be performed.

Note: There is no way, without testing, to know if meningitis is due to listeria or another cause.

Review Date: 08/28/2009
Reviewed By: Linda Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine; Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).