toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by a parasite called toxoplasma gondii, and is transmitted to humans by some species of mammals or birds that are contaminated. This bacterium lives in domestic and wild cats and can reproduce inside the cells, muscle and nervous tissue of the host, where they can remain even after the death of the animal that harbors them. The incubation period in humans is 10 to 20 days. In ONsalus we explain the symptoms, causes and treatment of toxoplasmosis
Symptoms of toxoplasmosis
toxoplasmosis may be asymptomatic, however some symptoms will depend on the state of the infected person's immune system.
If you have a he althy immune system the symptoms will be:
- Headache
- Fever
- Swollen lymph nodes in the head and neck
- Muscle and sore throat
If you have a weak immune system you will have symptoms like:
- Headache
- Blurry vision
- Seizures
- Fever
- Inflammation of the retina
- Confusion
On the other hand there is a congenital toxoplasmosis, in which the mother acquires an infection during pregnancy and it is transferred to the fetus through through the placenta, symptoms occur after birth and may manifest in:
- Anemia
- Jaundice
- Blindness
- Squint
- Seizures
- Hydrocephalus
- Macrocephaly or microcephaly
- Psychomotor or mental retardation
Causes of toxoplasmosis
The causes of toxoplasmosis originate from eating raw or undercooked meat, handling cat feces, or transfusions blood or organ transplants. It can also occur due to congenital causes during pregnancy, most of the time the mother is not aware of this condition, since she does not show any symptoms
To diagnose toxoplasmosis the first thing to do is to have a blood test and pay attention to whether there are IgG antibodies (found in body fluids and protect us against bacteria and viral infections) and IgM (it is present in the lymphatic fluid and in the blood, it is the first antibody that is generated when an infection occurs). This will give the doctor the necessary information about our immune system.
In the case of the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in newborns, it will be based on the symptoms, the blood test and the location of the parasite, whether in the fetal blood, amniotic fluid, placenta, or embryonic and fetal tissues.
Treatment for toxoplasmosis
Patients with toxoplasmosis who have a he althy immune system do not require treatment, unless severe symptoms continue. Antibiotics will usually be prescribed which will stop the production of folic acid within the bacteria. In pregnant women, early treatment can help reduce the risk of infection in the fetus, or reduce it if it has already been transmitted. If the patient has a weakened immune system, they will be treated for 4 to 6 weeks after the symptoms disappear.
In general, the disease has a good prognosis, especially in people with a he althy immune system, however, the condition can recur. In immunocompromised patients, the infection could spread and cause death.
In addition to treatment, there are preventive measures that we must take into account to prevent the spread of toxoplasmosis,in the case of food, avoid consuming raw or undercooked meats, wash fruits and vegetables well before eating them, if eating away from home avoid ordering raw salads, wash your hands afterwards handling raw meat. If you have cats, wash your hands very well after cleaning their litter box and make sure they don't leave the house, because if they hunt a bird and eat their meat they can get toxoplasmosis.
This article is merely informative, at ONsalus.com we do not have the authority to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to go to a doctor in the event of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.
