Toxoplasmosis natural history, complications and prognosis
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] ; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Aditya Ganti M.B.B.S. [2]
Overview
If left untreated in people with a weakened immune system, such as those infected with HIV, and fetuses, the disease can become seriously ill, and occasionally be fatal. The parasite can cause encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and neurologic diseases and can affect the heart, liver, and eyes (chorioretinitis). Complications that can develop as a result of toxoplasmosis are mental retardation, seizures, motor difficulties, severe vision loss, hydrocephalus or microcephalus, hearing loss. Prognosis of infection in immunocompromised individual is dependent on the severity of the disease. Severe infection causes death at an early age, asymptomatic infection will present in the 1st or 2nd decade with progressive chorioretinitis with poor prognosis.[1]
Natural History
During the first few weeks, the infection typically causes a mild flu-like illness or no illness. After the first few weeks of infection have passed, the parasite rarely causes any symptoms in otherwise healthy adults. If left untreated in people with a weakened immune system, such as those infected with HIV, and fetuses, the disease can become seriously ill, and occasionally be fatal. The parasite can cause encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and neurologic diseases and can affect the heart, liver, and eyes (chorioretinitis).
Complications
Complications that can develop as a result of toxoplasmosis are
Congenital toxoplasmosis
- Mental retardation
- Seizures
- Motor difficulties
- Severe vision loss
- Hydrocephalus or microcephalus
- hearing loss.[1]
Infection in AIDS/immunocomprimised individuals
Infection in Immunocompetent individuals
Prognosis
- The prognosis toxoplasmosis infection in an immunocompetent patient is good without treatment.
- Prognosis of infection in immunocompromised individual and congenital toxoplasmosis is dependent on the severity of the disease. Severe infection causes death at an early age, asymptomatic infection at birth will present in the 1st or 2nd decade with progressive chorioretinitis with poor prognosis.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Webster, Joanne P.; Stillwaggon, Eileen; Carrier, Christopher S.; Sautter, Mari; McLeod, Rima (2011). "Maternal Serologic Screening to Prevent Congenital Toxoplasmosis: A Decision-Analytic Economic Model". PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases. 5 (9): e1333. doi:10.1371/journal.pntd.0001333. ISSN 1935-2735.