Schizophrenia and Infection

Offspring of women exposed to parasitic infection, toxoplasmosis, during pregnancy may be at increased risk of developing schizophrenia in adulthood says one study.

Toxoplasmosis can result from eating undercooked meat, unwashed fruits and vegetables, or drinking water contaminated with the parasite. It can also be contracted through unwashed hands after gardening or cleaning cat litter boxes.

The increased risk resulting from infection may not be due to the a specific infection, but a secondary mechanism, such as inflamation.