Toxoplasmosis: symptoms, causes and treatment

What is toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis or toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by a parasitic infection Toxoplasma gondii. These parasites affect the digestive tract (including the mouth, esophagus, stomach, intestines and anus), heart, nerves, and skin.

This parasitic infection can cause flu-like symptoms in the sufferer. However, most patients do not experience any symptoms at all even though they have been infected with parasites Toxoplasma .

In babies born to mothers with toxoplasmosis, as well as people with poor immune systems, this disease can cause serious complications.

How common is this condition?

Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most common parasites found in various parts of the world. Toxoplasmosis infection can occur from the beginning of birth (congenital disease).

If a pregnant woman is infected with toxoplasma in the early stages of pregnancy, there is the possibility of having a miscarriage, the baby dies in the womb, or gives birth to a baby with disabilities.

Millions of people have been infected with toxoplasmosis, but only a few develop symptoms. This is because a healthy person's body tends to have a strong enough immune system to fight disease-causing germs.

Signs and symptoms of toxoplasmosis

The most common feature of toxoplasmosis is flu-like symptoms, such as:

• Fever
• Fatigue
• Muscle ache
• Headache
• Swollen lymph nodes

Exposed healthy people Toxoplasma usually have a strong immune system so do not experience any symptoms. In this phase, the parasite will "fall asleep" in the body.

If the body's resistance decreases, this condition will trigger the parasite that causes toxoplasma to "wake up" and cause symptoms.

That's why if you have a health condition that causes your immune system to decline, such as HIV / AIDS, is currently undergoing chemotherapy, or has just had a transplant before being exposed to parasites Toxoplasma You may have much more serious symptoms of an infection, including:

• Headache
• Confusion
• Poor motor coordination
• Unexpected movements of the feet or hands
• Lung problems and common infections in patients with AIDS
• Blurred vision due to severe retinal infection.

Some infections in the early stages of pregnancy will also cause miscarriage or death of the fetus. Children who survive will eventually have serious problems such as:

• Seizures
• Enlarged spleen of the liver
• Yellow eyes and skin
• Severe eye infection
• Reduced hearing quality
• Psychotic disorders

In addition, there are also some characteristics and symptoms that are not mentioned above. If you have the same complaint, please consult your doctor.

When should I call the doctor?

You should contact your doctor if you notice the following signs:

• Symptoms do not improve or improve after treatment;
• Experiencing confusion, loss of motor coordination, with decreased visual acuity.

Each patient's body may show a variety of signs and symptoms. Therefore, immediately consult a doctor to get a diagnosis and treatment that suits your health condition.

Causes of toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis is caused by a parasitic infection called Toxoplasma gondii . This parasite can live for a long time if it has infected a human or animal body, it could even last a lifetime.

The following are ways of transmitting the parasite that causes toxoplasmosis:

• Eating meat from infected animals that has not been cooked or undercooked (especially lamb and pork)
• Ingest parasites indirectly after handling infected meat, especially if you do not wash your hands afterward
• Touching cat litter or a cat enclosure that is infected with parasites
• Eat food contaminated with parasites
• Drinking water that is contaminated with parasites
• Eat contaminated fruit or vegetables
• Pregnancy and childbirth (the mother passes the parasite to her baby)
• Receive an organ transplant or blood transfusion from an infected person Toxoplasma

Risk factors

Everyone can get toxoplasmosis. However, there are several factors that can increase a person's risk of contracting a parasitic infection Toxoplasma , that is:

• People living with HIV / AIDS
• Cancer patients who routinely receive chemotherapy. Chemotherapy weakens the immune system, leaving the body susceptible to infection.
• Using steroids or drugs immunosuppressive (weakens the immune system), such as drugs for cancer patients.
• Having an infected mother Toxoplasma when pregnant.

Diagnosis and treatment

The information below is not a substitute for medical advice from a doctor; ALWAYS consult a professional doctor.

How is this disease diagnosed?

The doctor will make a diagnosis based on medical records, physical examination, and blood tests. If specific tests are not done, toxoplasmosis is often difficult to diagnose because the symptoms that appear are usually similar to those of other diseases, such as the flu.

If the doctor suspects an infection, the doctor will order a blood test to see if there are antibodies to the parasite. Antibodies are proteins that are produced by the immune system and will appear when there is a foreign object, such as a parasite.

The results of the antibody test are still classified as difficult to read, so any positive test results must be confirmed by a laboratory that specifically diagnoses toxoplasmosis.

Tests for pregnant women and babies

If you are pregnant and infected with parasites Toxoplasma , what the doctor needs to do is check whether the baby you are carrying is infected or not.

Some of the tests that may be done to check for toxoplasmosis in pregnant women and babies include:

• Amniocentesis
  This procedure is usually done after the 15th week of pregnancy. Generally, doctors use a small needle to collect a small amount of amniotic fluid around the fetus for examination.

• Ultrasound or ultrasound
  An ultrasound test uses sound waves to create an image of the baby in the womb. Toxoplasmosis ultrasound technology cannot diagnose the presence of these bacteria, but it can show some signs of a baby's infection, such as fluid in the brain (hydrocephalus). However, a negative ultrasound test does not guarantee that your baby is 100% infection free. That is why, the doctor will continue to check and record the progress of his blood tests in the first 12 months of birth.

Test in severe cases

If the toxoplasmosis infection is severe enough and it is suspected that you have caused a brain infection, you may need various diagnostic methods to check if your brain is also affected. The tests that are done usually:

• MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
  This test uses magnetic instruments and electromagnetic waves to produce fragments between the head and brain area. During the procedure, you will be in a large, tubular machine with a magnetic field in the center and surrounded by aluminum. MRI is a procedure that is not harmful to the body.

• Brain biopsy
  In very rare cases, especially if you are not progressing from the treatment given, your doctor will perform an operation to take a small sample of your brain. The sample is then analyzed in a laboratory for traces of parasites Toxoplasma that is in the brain.

What are the treatment options for toxoplasmosis?

Quoted from the Mayo Clinic, if you are healthy, not pregnant, and have been diagnosed with toxoplasmosis, you may not need any treatment. The most important thing is to maintain the immune system and live a healthy lifestyle.

However, if you belong to a group of people who are at risk, such as pregnant women and have a poor immune system, you should get intensive care as soon as possible.

The reason is, this disease can cause complications in people who are classified as at risk. Health complications that can occur include:

• Eye infection
• Blindness
• Encephalitis (brain infection)
• Hearing loss
• Mental disorders

Medicines given to healthy people with toxoplasmosis will be different from those prescribed for patients at risk of complications. The following are medicines for patients who are not at risk:

• Pyrimethamine
• Sulfadiazine
• Folinic acid

These medications can cause increased sensitivity to light, bleeding, or bruising. Your doctor may order blood tests to watch for other side effects.

To reduce fever, use paracetamol. There is no specific diet for toxoplasmosis patients. However, you will need to drink plenty of water.

Toxoplasmosis treatment for HIV / AIDS patients

If you have HIV / AIDS, the recommended treatments are pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine. Another alternative is to combine pyrimethamine with clindamycin .

Toxoplasmosis treatment for pregnant women and babies

If you are pregnant and infected with parasites Toxoplasma , You may need medical care depending on the age of your pregnancy.

If the infection occurs before the 16th week of pregnancy, the doctor will prescribe the antibiotic spiramycin. This medicine may reduce the risk of a baby being born with neurological problems as a result of this disease.

If the infection occurs after the 16th week of pregnancy, or the doctor finds the baby in your womb positive for infection Toxoplasma , You will be prescribed pyrimethamine, sulfadiazine, and folinic acid.

Prevention of toxoplasmosis

Here are forms of a healthy lifestyle and home remedies that can help you both treat and prevent toxoplasmosis:

• Take paracetamol for pain and fever
• Rest until the symptoms and complaints disappear. Slowly resume your regular activities.
• If you have a pet like a cat, make sure litter box or the cat is always cleaned every day. However, avoid changing litter box if you are in the risk group.
• Avoid petting or touching street cats, especially kittens.
• If you have a cat, give him canned or dry cat food. Avoid giving raw or undercooked food.
• Consultations with doctors regularly and continuously for blood tests
• Use sunscreen when outdoors because during the treatment period, you will be more sensitive to sunlight
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and running water, especially after handling meat, fruits and vegetables
• Cook the meat until cooked. Wash fruits and vegetables before eating.

If you have any questions, consult a professional doctor to find the best medical solution.