What is the fetal complication associated with congenital toxoplasmosis?

The association between congenital toxoplasmosis and stillbirth is well-established in medical literature. Congenital toxoplasmosis occurs when a mother contracts the Toxoplasma gondii parasite during pregnancy, which can cross the placenta and affect the developing fetus. The consequences of this infection can be quite severe and include not only stillbirth but also a range of other neurological and ocular complications in surviving infants.

Stillbirth can occur due to various factors linked to the parasitic infection, such as placental insufficiency or direct fetal infection leading to severe fetal distress. Other common fetal outcomes associated with congenital toxoplasmosis include chorioretinitis, hydrocephalus, and intracranial calcifications, which can lead to significant morbidity, but stillbirth remains a critical concern.

In contrast, while neonatal jaundice is a common condition that can occur in newborns, it is not directly a fetal complication of congenital toxoplasmosis. Congenital heart defects and neonatal diabetes are also not associated with toxoplasmosis, as these conditions arise from different etiological factors unrelated to the parasite. Therefore, focusing on stillbirth accurately represents a key complication linked specifically to congenital toxoplasmosis.