Health Tips

Toxoplamosis (Infectious Disease):
Introduction:
Toxoplasmosis infection is caused by the single-celled protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Symptoms may include swollen lymph nodes, fever and a vague sense of ill, and sometimes sore throat, and blurred vision, pain in the eye.

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People acquire the infection through the transfer of parasite eggs from contaminated objects in the mouth or by eating contaminated food.
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Infected pregnant women may transmit the parasite to the fetus, and sometimes cause abortion and stillbirth, or serious problems in the fetus.
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Usually, only people with a weakened immune system have symptoms, which may include weakness on one side of the body, confusion, coma, breathing difficulties, or malfunction of the device.
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Doctors usually diagnose the infection through blood tests that detect antibodies against the parasite.
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Cooking or freezing meat well and wash your hands thoroughly after handling raw meat, soil, or cat litter helps prevent the spread of infection.
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Most people do not need a cure, but with adults and children who suffer from symptoms of infection treated with sulfadiazine plus pyrimethamine Some Trade Names
DARAPRIM
With leukovorin.

Toxoplasma gondii exists in all parts of the world where there are cats. Parasite infects a large number of animals as well as people. Many people in the United States have been infected, despite the fact that they have developed symptoms of a few of the ever. Severe infection usually develops only in fetuses and people who have a weakened immune system due to AIDS, cancer, or drugs used to suppress rejection of organ transplants (immunosuppressants).

Although the parasite can grow in the tissues of many animals, and produce eggs (oocysts) only in the cells lining the intestines cats. Throwing eggs in the stool and can survive for up to 18 months in the soil.

People may acquire the infection through the transfer of Toxoplasma eggs from contaminated soil or other objects to the mouth or by eating contaminated food. Occasionally, animals such as pigs acquire toxoplasmosis from contact with contaminated soil from eating eggs. People can be infected by eating raw or undercooked meat from infected animals. The parasite is rarely transmitted through blood transfusions or through organ transplantation from an infected person.

A woman who acquires infection during pregnancy, toxoplasmosis gondii can be transferred to the fetus through the placenta. The result may be the death of the fetus and abortion, and, or a child born with congenital toxoplasmosis . A woman who was infected before pregnancy, which does not pass the parasite to the fetus.

People who suffer from a weakened immune system, particularly those suffering from AIDS or cancer or who are receiving drugs to prevent rejection of organ transplants, and in particular to the risk of toxoplasmosis. The symptoms usually in the situation of these people when the previously acquired toxoplasmosis infection is activated but can be developed when the device is transferred from an infected person. Infection usually affects the brain, but it may affect the eye or spread throughout the body (disseminate). In people who suffer from a weakened immune system due to AIDS, cancer, or immunosuppressants taken after organ transplants or for other reasons, toxoplasmosis is very dangerous and can be fatal if not treated.

Symptoms:

Most people who have immune system health symptoms are few and full recovery. Children who are born with congenital toxoplasmosis may be severely ill and die shortly after birth, or may have no symptoms until months or years later. Some never sick. Typical symptoms in newborn babies can include inflammation of the eyes (chorioretinitis), which can lead to blindness, as well as an enlarged liver and spleen, jaundice, rashes, easy bruising, seizures, head of a large or small, and mental retardation.

Toxoplasmosis acquired after birth in persons who have a healthy immune system rarely causes symptoms. When symptoms occur, they are usually simple and painless but include swollen lymph nodes, intermittent low fever, vague feeling of ill, and sometimes sore throat. Some people develop chorioretinitis only, with no clarity of vision, eye pain, sensitivity to light. Chorioretinitis usually as a result of the revitalization of congenital toxoplasmosis.

Symptoms of toxoplasmosis in people who suffer from a weakened immune system depends on the site of injury. Toxoplasmosis of the brain (encephalitis) and produces symptoms such as weakness on one side of the body, trouble speaking, headache, confusion, seizures, and coma. Acute disseminated toxoplasmosis can cause skin rash, high fever, chills, breathing disorders, and fatigue. In some people, cause infection and inflammation of the liver (hepatitis), lungs (pneumonia), or in the heart (myocarditis). Affected the device may stop working enough (called the failure of the device). These types of toxoplasmosis can be life threatening.

Diagnosis:

Diagnosis is usually based on blood tests that detect antibodies against the parasite. However, if the immune system is affected as a result of AIDS, and blood test may be falsely negative. To determine whether the fetus has been infected, and the doctor usually takes a sample of fluid around the fetus (amniotic fluid) for analysis. If toxoplasmosis of the brain is suspected, CT scans or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain is done. Less commonly, a piece of tissue is removed and examined under the microscope (biopsy) to determine the parasite or distinctive proteins (antigens) issued by the parasites.

Prevention and treatment:

Pregnant women should avoid contact with cats. If the connection is not inevitable, and that pregnant women should at least avoid cleaning cat litter boxes or wear gloves when doing so. Meat should be cooked to a temperature of 165 to 170 ° Fahrenheit (74 to 77 degrees Celsius), and wash your hands thoroughly after handling raw meat, soil, or cat litter. The freezing temperature of 9 degrees Fahrenheit (13 degrees Celsius) or less as destroying the parasite.

The potential donors to test a device to prevent the spread of parasites through implanted devices. Trimethoprim - sulfamethoxazole Some Trade Names
Can be used to prevent toxoplasmosis. People who can not afford these drugs may be given pyrimethamine Some Trade Names
DARAPRIM
Dapsone with some brand names
ACZONE
. Another option is to atovaquone Some Trade Names
MEPRON
With or without pyrimethamine Some Trade Names
DARAPRIM
. Pyrimethamine because some trade names
DARAPRIM
Can damage the bone marrow, leucovorin is with them to help protect the bone marrow. Perhaps the people living with AIDS to be given anti-viral drugs are very active to reduce the risk of toxoplasmosis.

Adults without symptoms, a healthy immune system does not require treatment. With adults and children who suffer from symptoms of congenital toxoplasmosis are treated with sulfadiazine plus pyrimethamine Some Trade Names
DARAPRIM
And leukovorin. Pyrimethamine is not higher than some brands
DARAPRIM
Commonly used in people with AIDS or other conditions that weaken the immune system. If people can not take sulfadiazine, clindamycin Some Trade Names
CLEOCIN
Can be used with pyrimethamine Some Trade Names
DARAPRIM
Instead. Women who may have access to toxoplasmosis during pregnancy treated with spiramycin to prevent transmission to the fetus. In addition to these medicines, and people with chorioretinitis given prednisone or another corticosteroid to reduce inflammation. In persons with AIDS, toxoplasmosis tend to repeat, and drugs and often continued indefinitely.