Toxoplasmosis symptoms vary depending on the person’s health and where in the body the parasite is present. In healthy individuals, most symptoms go away without treatment and are not serious. However, people with weakened immune systems and pregnant women may develop complications from toxoplasmosis.
The most common way to get Toxoplasma is by eating or drinking food contaminated with the parasite or by coming into contact with cat feces. Toxoplasma can also be transferred through contact with contaminated blood, but this is very rare.
Symptoms of Toxoplasma infection include fever, loss of appetite and lethargy. Affected people usually recover in a few weeks. Infection can be serious or life threatening in some situations, including if it causes severe damage to the eyes, liver or other organs.
Infections can be congenital or acquired (acquired from another source). Acquired toxoplasmosis is more serious, especially for women who are pregnant. It can cause brain damage, eye problems and a variety of other problems.
Pregnant women can contract toxoplasmosis when they eat raw or undercooked meat, which contains the parasite. They can also get infected when they touch a cat’s litter box and don’t wash their hands thoroughly. They can also transfer toxoplasmosis to their unborn baby if they are infected in the first 16 weeks of pregnancy.
A pregnant woman who has toxoplasmosis should talk with her doctor about treatment options. A course of antibiotics can lower her risk of transmitting the parasite to her unborn child.
During pregnancy, toxoplasmosis can be passed to your baby through the placenta, so it’s important to get treatment right away. Your doctor can use drugs such as spiramycin, which is used in Europe but is still being tested in the United States.
If your doctor prescribes treatment for toxoplasmosis, it may be given to you by mouth. It is usually a combination of clindamycin and corticosteroids. You will need to continue taking the medication for several days after your symptoms have gone away.
Toxoplasma is more likely to affect children and young adults with weakened immune systems. These people can develop problems like seizures and encephalitis, which is an inflammation of the membranes around the brain. They can also have problems with the lungs and liver.
They can also have problems with their eyes and mental abilities, which can affect their personality. They can have a hard time communicating or making decisions.
The condition can also lead to permanent brain damage or death. This can happen when the parasite reaches the brain and starts multiplying in the bloodstream.
It can also cause a serious illness called cystitis, which is inflammation of the bladder. The cysts can cause swelling and block the urine flow.
Toxoplasmosis can be prevented by washing hands and eating cooked meat, fruits and vegetables. It can also be prevented by not gardening in areas where cats live and by keeping cat feces out of the garden.
