Toxoplasmosis Erin Swann
Content Spreading
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Symptoms
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Risks
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Tests and Prevention
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Eye Infections
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Treatment
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Sources
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Picture: Scarring in an eye due to a Toxoplasmosis infection.
Over 6 million people are infected and most are unaware. This parasite may seem benign, yet it could cause vision loss, brain damage, or miscarriage.
How is Toxoplasmosis Spread? Toxoplasmosis is a parasite that normally lives in cats, birds, and a few other animals such as humans. The most commonly known way this is spread is by changing cat litter. However, this may not be harmful if your cat
is an indoor cat and has not come into contact with the parasite. Another way to get it is by eating undercooked meat, especially pork or lamb. It can also be contracted from eating fruits or vegetables that have been con-
taminated, or just by gardening in contaminated soil.
What are the Symptoms? Usually people with healthy immune systems don’t experience any symptoms. However, in people with AIDS or pregnant women, you may experience flu-like symptoms such as :
Confusion, fever, headache, blurred vision due to inflamed retina, seizures, enlarged lymph nodes, muscle pain, sore throat, and a mild illness.
Babies infected during pregnancy may exhibit these signs, or they may develop them later in life:
miscarriage if they have been recently infected, or the baby may be born with birth defects. Sometimes babies born infected with the parasite
may develop more severe problems such as loss of vision during their teen years.
Seizures, enlarged liver and spleen, jaundice, and severe eye infections.
What are the Risks? For people who are healthy, there are usually no risks. However, people with AIDS may become extremely ill. Women who are pregnant may have a
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Toxoplasmosis
How Can I Be Tested? How Can I Prevent it? Your doctor may test you in several different ways. Antibody Titers, Cranial CT Scans, a MRI of the Head, a Slit Lamp Exam, or a Brain Biopsy can be used to identify the parasite, along with blood tests.
You can prevent it by changing your litter every day, which prevents the parasite from maturing enough to infect you. Wash your hands after gardening. Cook meats thoroughly to kill any parasites in the infected meat. Avoid touching
your mouth during outdoor activities or while changing your litter box. Against common belief, you can still pet your cat without contracting the parasite. You also do not have to get rid of your cat as long as you follow the precautions.
Eye Infections Sometimes the parasite may travel to the eye. In these instances, a few severe complications may occur. If you have blurred vision, there may be damage to your retina. This may lead to scarring and should be examined im-
mediately. You may completely lose vision. Here is a picture of a scarred retina which was damaged by the parasite after being exposed for too long.
How is it Treated? If your doctor determines that a treatment is necessary, it is usually because you are pregnant or have AIDS. In these cases, a medication may be given
Treatment
to kill the parasite before it can damage the fetus or lead to a severe illness.
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For more info: http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/ toxoplasmosis/gen_info/ faqs.html http://www.mayoclinic.com/ health/toxoplasmosis/DS00510/ DSECTION=symptoms
JCIB
Erin Swann Health 2013
Sources Cited APA Centers for disease control and prevention. (01/J). Cruz. (Photographer). (2009). Toxoplasmic scarring . [Web Photo]. Dugdale, D., & Zieve, D. (2011). Pubmed health. Mayo Clinic (2011). Toxoplasmo sis. University of Iowa (Photographer). (2007). Aquired toxoplasmosis r etina . [Web Photo].