Sandbox dangers?

[Cthycarlson]

I ate a sandwich after picking up my toddler who'd been playing in a sandbox. Then I realized that sandboxes could be dangerous for pregnant women, if it contains toxoplasmosis. Could I have somehow contaminated myself from him? I am currently 21 weeks.

[Ecologic]

When in doubt, ask for a blood test for toxoplasmosis next time you see your OB-gyn.

[KarenDiane]

I was under the impression that toxoplasmosis was in kitty litter because of cat feces. You could probably google it.

[adgal]

Yes, you can get it from sandboxes if cats have been using it.  I doubt you have much to worry about though, not with that type of exposure.  Talk to your Dr. and as Ecologic said, they can run bloodtests.  I will tell you that I have two cats, and scooped and changed kitty litter whenever DH was away.  I don't think I was ever even tested for it, and I did not have any problems.  You should always be careful, but I doubt there is any problem.  Good luck, and congrats on your pregnancy!!!!

[AnnieBrooke]

Here's from another site:

"Human [toxoplasmosis] infection may result from:
    * Blood transfusions or solid organ transplants
    * Carelessly handling cat litter
    * Eating contaminated soil
    * Eating raw or undercooked meat (lamb, pork, and beef)"

It's not like you "ate contaminated soil."  It's true that people who garden a lot can be at risk for toxoplasmosis, since it's a soilborne parasite.  But they have to be eating with muddy hands.

If the sandbox where your child was playing is kept uncovered, if there are cats nearby who use it as a litter box, if those cats had toxoplasmosis when they pooped in the sandbox, if you have never had toxoplasmosis before, and (most important) if you in fact ate a piece of sand that had the parasite on it, you might possibly be at risk.  This speculative chain is pretty attenuated, especially at the sandbox-has-the-parasite-in-it part, and at the you-ate-sand part.  

As adgal and Ecologic said, you can get a titer run by your doctor to see if you have ever had toxoplasmosis before (it presents like a mild flu when people get it, so one doesn't always know).  If it's yes, you're immune now.  Also, look up the issue online in regard to how dangerous it would be at what point in pregnancy.  (Some conditions are more dangerous in the first trimester, some in the third, etc.)  But I don't think your risk is that high.  I have had cats all my life, and we did everything wrong in terms of not cleaning the box within the prescribed 48 hours, and I garden a lot, and when I had a titer run (fully expecting it to be positive) I had never gotten toxoplasmosis, with all that exposure.  So it obviously isn't that easy to get.  Your possible exposure window was pretty slim.