Symptoms and treatment of Toxoplasmosis

Description

Toxoplasmosis (tok-so-plaz-MOE-sis) is an infection with a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. Often people get the infection by eating undercooked meat. You can also get it through contact with cat feces. The parasite can pass to a baby during pregnancy.

The majority of people infected with the parasite do not have symptoms. Some people get flu-like symptoms. Severe disease most frequently affects infants and people with weakened immune systems. Toxoplasmosis during pregnancy can cause miscarriage and birth defects.

Most infections do not require treatment. Drug treatment is used for people with more severe cases, people, pregnant women, newborns and people with weakened immune systems. A number of measures to prevent toxoplasmosis can reduce the risk of infection.

Symptoms

The majority of the people infected with this disease do not have symptoms. Often do not know they are infected. Some people have symptoms similar to the flu, including:

Fever.
Swollen lymph nodes that can last for weeks.
The pain of a headache.
Muscle aches.
Rash on the skin.

The symptoms of the disease of the eyes

The toxoplasma, the parasite can infect the tissues inside the eye. This can occur in people with a healthy immune system. But the disease is more severe in people with weakened immunity. An eye infection called toxoplasmosis ocular. Symptoms may include:

Pain in the eyes.
The poor vision.
The floats, which are the stains that seem to swim in his vision.

Without treatment, the disease of the eye that can cause blindness.

Effect in people with weakened immune systems

People with weakened immune systems are more likely to have severe disease toxoplasmosis. A toxoplasmosis infection early in life can be re-triggered. People at risk are those living with HIV/AIDS, people who are undergoing treatment for cancer, and people with a transplanted organ.

In addition to the serious eye disease, toxoplasmosis can cause severe lung or the brain of the illness of a person with weakened immunity. In rare cases, the infection can occur in other tissues throughout the body.

The lung infection can cause:

Breathing problems.
Fever.
For cough.

Toxoplasmosis can cause inflammation in the brain, also called encephalitis. Symptoms may include:

Confusion.
Poor coordination.
The muscle weakness.
Seizures.
Changes in alertness.

Effect on the fetus or the baby

Toxoplasmosis can pass from the mother to the fetus during pregnancy. This is called congenital toxoplasmosis.

Infection during the first trimester often causes a more severe illness. It can also result in spontaneous abortion. For some children with toxoplasmosis, a serious illness can be present at birth or appear in early childhood. Health problems can include:

Too much fluid in or around the brain, also called hydrocephalus.
Severe eye infection.
Irregularities in the tissues of the brain.
An enlarged liver or spleen.

The severe symptoms of the disease vary. They may include:

Mental or motor skills.
Blindness or other vision problems.
Problems of the hearing.
Seizures.
The disorders of the heart.
Yellowing of the skin and the whites of the eyes, also called jaundice.
Rash.

Most babies with this disease do not have symptoms. But problems may appear later in childhood or adolescence. These include:

Return of infections in the eye.
Problems with the development of motor skills.
Problems with thinking and learning.
The hearing loss.
The slow growth.
Precocious puberty.

When to see a doctor

Talk with your doctor about a test if you are concerned about exposure to the parasite. If you are planning a pregnancy or are pregnant, consult your doctor if you suspect that exposure.

The symptoms of severe toxoplasmosis include blurred vision, confusion, and loss of coordination. These need immediate medical attention, especially if you have a weakened immune system.

Causes

Toxoplasma gondii is a parasite that can infect most animals and birds. You can only go through the entire cycle of the reproduction of domestic and wild cats. These are the main hosts for the parasite.

Immature eggs, an intermediate stage of reproduction, it may be in the feces of cats. This immature egg allows the parasite to make your way through the food chain. You can pass from the earth and the water for the plants, animals and human beings. Once the parasite has a new host, the cycle of reproduction is turned on and cause an infection.

If you're in the typical health, your immune system keeps the parasite in check. Stay in your body, but are not active. This often gives immunity for life. If you are exposed to the parasite again, your immune system would be able to clarify it.

If your immune system is weakened later in life, the parasite of the playback may start again. This leads to a new active infection that can lead to serious disease and complications.

People often toxoplasma infection one of the following ways:

The feces of the cats with the parasite. Cats who hunt or who are fed raw meat are more likely to lead to toxoplasma parasites. You can become infected if you touch your mouth after touching any thing that has been in contact with cat feces. This can be of gardening or cleaning a litter box.
Contaminated food or water. Undercooked beef, lamb, pork, venison, chicken, and seafood are known carriers of the parasite. Non-pasteurized goat's milk and non-potable water may also be carriers.
Unwashed fruits and vegetables. The surface of fruits and vegetables may have the parasite in them.
Contaminated kitchen tool. The parasites can be in cutting boards, knives, and other utensils that come in contact with raw meat or unwashed fruits and vegetables.
Infected organ transplant or blood transfusion. Rarely, toxoplasma parasites are transmitted through organ transplantation or blood transfusions.

Risk factors

The parasite is found throughout the world. Any person can become infected.

The risks of a serious disease toxoplasmosis are the things that prevent the immune system to fight infections, such as:

The infection with HIV/AIDS.
Chemotherapy treatment for cancer.
High-dose steroids.
Drugs to prevent the rejection of transplanted organs.

Prevention

Certain precautions can help prevent toxoplasmosis:

Wear gloves to the garden or to the handle of the earth. Wear gloves when working outdoors. Wash your hands with soap and water after.
Do not eat raw or undercooked meat. Use a meat thermometer to ensure that meat is cooked enough. Cooking whole meats and fish, at least 145 F (63 C) and leave to rest for at least three minutes. Cook ground beef to at least 160 f (71 C). Cooking whole and ground poultry to at least 165 F (74 C).
Do not eat raw seafood. Do not eat raw clams, mussels and oysters, especially during pregnancy.
Wash the cookware thoroughly. Wash cutting boards, knives and other utensils with soap and water after contact with raw meat or unwashed fruits and vegetables. Wash your hands before and after preparing food.
Wash all fruits and vegetables. Wash fruits and vegetables before eating, peeling or cooking.
Not drinking goat milk is not pasteurized. Avoid unpasteurized goat's milk or products made from milk.
Do not drink untreated water. During the pregnancy, not drinking untreated water.
Cover children's sandboxes. Cover sandboxes to keep outdoor cats to use as litter boxes.

For the cat lovers

If you are pregnant, or on any type of risk of toxoplasmosis, take these steps to protect yourself:

Help your cat to stay healthy. Keep your cat inside the house. Dry food or canned cat food, not raw or undercooked meat.
To avoid the loss of cats or kittens. Avoid stray cats, especially kittens. Do not get a new cat when you're pregnant.
Have someone else clean the litter box. Clean the box daily, if possible. If someone can't clean, wear gloves and a mask to change the litter box. Then, thoroughly wash your hands.

Diagnosis

A diagnosis of toxoplasmosis is based on a blood test. Lab tests can detect two types of antibodies. An antibody is an immune system agent that is in the presence of a new and active infection with the parasite. The other antibody is present if you had an infection at any time in the past. Depending on the results, your doctor may repeat a test after two weeks.

Most diagnostic tests that are used depending on other symptoms, your health and other factors.

The symptoms of the eye

If you have symptoms of an eye, you will need an exam by a physician who specializes in diseases of the eye, called an eye doctor. An examination may include the use of special lenses or cameras that allow the doctor to see tissue in the interior of the eye.

Brain and other nervous system symptoms

If there are symptoms of inflammation of the brain, the tests may include the following:

The brain images. Mri or CT scans are used to create images of the brain. These can detect irregular structures in the brain associated with toxoplasmosis.
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) test. CSF is the fluid that surrounds and protects the brain and the spinal cord. Laboratory tests can detect toxoplasma gondii in CSF if there is an infection in the brain.
The brain tissue. Rarely, tissue is removed from the brain to detect the parasite.

Pregnancy

In the united States, pregnant women, persons are not routinely screened for toxoplasmosis. Recommendations for screening vary in other countries.

Your doctor may order a diagnostic blood test for you if:

Your symptoms could be an asset of toxoplasma infection.
Ultrasound images of your baby show irregular items linked to toxoplasmosis.

If you have an active infection, you can pass to your baby in the uterus. The diagnosis is based on tests of the fluid that surrounds the baby, called amniotic fluid. The sample is taken with a thin needle that passes through the skin and into the fluid-filled sac holding the baby.

Your care provider may order a test if:

You have a positive test for the parasite.
The results of the test are not clear.
Ultrasound images of the fetus show irregular items linked to toxoplasmosis.

Newborn

Blood tests are ordered for the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in a newborn baby if infection is suspected. A baby who tests positive will have a lot of tests to detect and keep an eye on the disease. These are likely to include:

Ultrasound or a ct scan of the brain.
Evidence that the fluid that surrounds the brain and the spine.
The eye exams.
Hearing tests.
Proof of the activity of the brain, called electrocephalogram.

Treatment

The medication is used to treat active infections. How much, and how much time you take the medicine depend on different factors. These include the severity of the disease that are, the health of the immune system, and where the infection is located. Your stage of pregnancy is also a factor.

Your medical professional can give him a combination of prescription drugs. They include:

Pyrimethamine (Daraprim). This combat infections caused by microscopic organisms. You can block the body's use of folic acid. Other possible side effects with long term use include bone marrow suppression and liver toxicity.
Leucovorin calcium helps to correct the effects of pyrimethamine in folic acid activity.
The drug is an antibiotic often prescribed with pyrimethamine. Other medications include clindamycin (Cleocin), azithromycin (Zithromax), and others.

The treatment for babies

Drug treatment for babies can last for 1 to 2 years. Regular and frequent follow-up appointments are needed to monitor side effects, vision problems, and physical, and intellectual development in general.

Additional treatment for eye disease

In addition to the regular drug therapy, diseases of the eyes can also be treated with anti-inflammatory steroids called glucocorticoids.

Preparing for your appointment

It is likely to start by seeing your health care provider. If you are pregnant, you will most likely see your ob. You can also refer to a provider who specializes in health, the so-called a perinatologist. In some cases, you will see a provider who specializes in infectious diseases.

You can prepare for your appointment to be prepared to answer the following questions:

What are your symptoms?
When do you start?
Have you been diagnosed with this disease in the past?
Do you have a cat? Is an indoor or outdoor cat? How to change the litter box?
You have eaten raw or undercooked meat or fish?
Have you had unpasteurized goat products?
Do you garden or work outside? Are you wearing gloves?
What medications, vitamins or supplements do you take?