Toxoplasmosis: Symptoms, Causes, Treatment

What are the symptoms of toxoplasmosis?

The symptoms of toxoplasmosis can vary depending on the person’s immune system and whether the infection is acute, chronic, or congenital. Many people with a healthy immune system may have mild or no symptoms at all. Here’s an overview of common symptoms:

1. Acute Toxoplasmosis in Healthy Individuals:

• Flu-like symptoms: Low-grade fever, fatigue, body aches, and muscle pain.
• Swollen lymph nodes: Particularly in the neck area.
• Headache: Persistent and dull.
• Sore throat: Similar to a mild case of pharyngitis.
• Occasional rash: Although uncommon.

2. Toxoplasmosis in Immunocompromised Individuals:

• Severe headaches and confusion.
• Seizures.
• Blurred vision or double vision.
• Coordination problems and difficulty moving.
• Pneumonia-like symptoms (shortness of breath, cough).

3. Congenital Toxoplasmosis (When a Baby is Infected During Pregnancy):

• Jaundice: Yellowing of the skin and eyes.
• Seizures.
• Enlarged liver and spleen.
• Hearing loss.
• Visual impairment: Due to eye inflammation (chorioretinitis).
• Developmental delays: Issues with motor and cognitive skills.

4. Ocular Toxoplasmosis (Eye Infections):

• Blurry vision.
• Eye pain.
• Redness of the eye.
• Sensitivity to light (photophobia).
• Loss of vision if left untreated.

Toxoplasmosis is often asymptomatic in healthy individuals, but it can lead to serious complications in pregnant women, babies, and those with weakened immune systems such as those with HIV.

What are the causes of toxoplasmosis?

Toxoplasmosis is caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which primarily completes its life cycle in cats but can infect most warm-blooded animals, including humans. Transmission can occur through various routes. Eating undercooked or raw meat, particularly pork, lamb, or venison, is a common cause since it may contain Toxoplasma cysts. Consuming unwashed fruits or vegetables contaminated with soil that contains the parasite or drinking contaminated water are also potential sources of infection.

Cat feces present another risk. The parasite can be transmitted by handling cat litter, soil, or sandboxes that are contaminated with infected cat feces, or by touching your mouth after coming into contact with such materials. Pregnant women can pass the parasite to their unborn babies through the placenta if they become infected during pregnancy, leading to congenital toxoplasmosis.

In rare cases, toxoplasmosis can be spread through organ transplants or blood transfusions from infected donors. Additionally, the parasite can survive on surfaces or in soil, making contact with contaminated environments another potential source of infection.

What is the treatment for toxoplasmosis?

The treatment for toxoplasmosis depends on factors like the severity of the infection, the patient’s overall health, and whether they are pregnant. For most healthy individuals with no symptoms or mild cases, treatment may not be necessary, as the immune system usually controls the infection.

For more serious cases, the standard treatment typically involves a combination of medications:

1. Pyrimethamine and Sulfadiazine: Pyrimethamine, often used with sulfadiazine, is the primary treatment for toxoplasmosis. Folinic acid (leucovorin) is usually given alongside to help prevent bone marrow suppression caused by pyrimethamine.
2. Clindamycin: For those who cannot tolerate sulfadiazine, clindamycin may be used instead.

For pregnant women diagnosed with toxoplasmosis, the treatment approach depends on the stage of pregnancy and whether the fetus is infected. Spiramycin is often used early in pregnancy to reduce the risk of transmission to the fetus. If fetal infection is confirmed later in pregnancy, the combination of pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine may be recommended.

In cases of congenital toxoplasmosis (infection passed from mother to baby), newborns may be treated with pyrimethamine, sulfadiazine, and leucovorin for a prolonged period, typically up to a year.

For those with weakened immune systems, such as people with HIV/AIDS or organ transplant recipients, a similar treatment regimen is followed, but it may be prolonged to prevent relapses. Maintenance therapy is often necessary in these patients until the immune system recovers.