DEFINITION

The toxoplasmosis is a very frequent infection for the protozoan intracelular Toxoplasma gondii

CAUSES, INCIDENCE AND FACTORS OF RISK

The toxoplasmosis is very frequent, affecting in the whole world many persons and many species of animals and birds. The definitive guest of the parasite is the cat.

The toxoplasmosis can affect also patients inmunodeprimidos (AIDS, patients with cancer in chemotherapy, etc), being able to affect in these patients to the brain, the eyes, the heart, the lung, the heart and the liver.

CLINIC

The period of incubation (I freed of symptoms) of the toxoplasmosis is between 1 and 2 weeks. The symptoms and the most typical signs are:

Normal guest:

• Light feverish illness similar to the call "mononucleosis".
• Headache.
• Muscular pains.
• Increase of size of the lymphatic ganglions.

• Cerebral Toxoplasmosis: Fever, headache, confusion, convulsions.
• Toxoplasmosis of the retina: Blurry vision.

DIAGNOSIS

Serologías: Specific tests with whey of the patient to determine circulating antibodies against the Toxoplasma.

Cerebral Toxoplasmosis: For his diagnosis, there can be precise a Scanner cranial (TAC) and/or a Magnetic Nuclear Resonance, and even a cerebral biopsy.

TREATMENT

• The light and asymptomatic cases do not need treatment.

• The treatment of the women gestantes is controversial due to the toxicity of the medicines, but it is done usually.

• The most used medications are the pirimetamina, the sulfamidas and the clindamicina (to See the handlebar ANTIBIOTICS).

• The treatment in the patients with AIDS is supported of for life, since the infection can be reactivated if the treatment is suspended.

PROPHYLAXIS (PREVENTION)

• To avoid the raw or slightly made meat, or to freeze it-20th C for at least 48 hours.

• To protect the areas of infantile games of the dregs of cats and dogs. Meticulous hand wash after contact with soil that could have been contaminated.

• All the women gestantes it has to become a serología for Toxoplasma, and those who have her negative, take special precautions not to contract the toxoplasmosis during his pregnancy.

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