Definition and causes
Toxoplasmosis is a mostly symptomløs infection caused by parasite Toxoplasma Gondii. It is a encellet organism, which live mainly in the digestive in cats, but seen in a wide range of mammals (eg. Hares).People infected by eating infected meat or inadequately washed vegetables, which may have residues of katteafføring (containing parasitforstadier). Infection seen in an acquired form and in a congenital form, as the infection during pregnancy can be spread from mother to child. This can have serious consequences for the child. Toxoplasmosis is widespread in the Danish population. However, it can only be transferred from mother to foetus just after the mother has been infected, and infection can only be transferred to the fetus if the mother infected during pregnancy. If this happens, there are about 20% risk, to her pass the disease to the fetus, but the fetus will not always have symptoms. This is, fortunately, rarely, and there are only approximately. 5 cases of congenital toxoplasmosis with symptoms per year in Denmark. If you have only one time been infected with toxoplasmosis, is developing subsequent lifelong immunity. That means that a woman has been infected with toxoplasmosis or transmitted the disease to one child, she can not transmit the disease to the next. Symptoms of toxoplasmosis
The symptoms are very different depending on which of the two forms Monday hit by, and on Monday is sick in advance. The acquired form is most often symptomløs, but can provide:- Fever.
- Raised lymph nodes.
- Fatigue.
If you immunocompromised, as the example. seen in AIDS patients , Is the disease, however, be more serious and result in: - Symptoms of the lungs, among others. pneumonia ( pneumonia ).
- Symptoms from the heart, blah. disease of the heart muscle.
- Injuries and abscesses (abscesses) in the brain with particular convulsions and paralysis as a result.
- Chorioretinitis (inflammation of the eye retina and årehinde).
The congenital form can also be asymptomatic but can cause serious conditions such as: - Chorioretinitis (this often leads to impaired vision from the child).
- Meningoencefalitis (inflammation of the hjernehinderne and parts of the brain).
- Hydrocefalus (water in the head with deformities of the skull to follow).
- Mikrocefali (abnormal development of brain and skull with strong retardation to follow).
- Forkalkninger in the brain.
Precautions and diagnosis
Toxoplasmosis is mentioned rarely dangerous under normal circumstances, and you do not fear infection to the day. However, one should follow a few precautions when you are pregnant to avoid the risk of infecting her child.You can protect themselves by washing hands after having touched by raw meat and grøntager, gennemstege meat, wash hands after having been with earth to do (possibly using gloves). You should also avoid close contact with cats, or at least avoid having to katteafføring to do (get a second to empty kattebakken) while you are pregnant. The diagnosis made by using a blood sample. Treatment of toxoplasmosis
Generally, the disease requires no treatment and is in itself again. In severe cases, intensive medical care. The infection of pregnant women in the first trimester (first 3 months) should abortion be considered. |
