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Most cases of toxoplasmosis do not cause symptoms, however when the person has the most compromised immune system, there may be constant headache, fever and muscle pain. It is important that these symptoms are investigated, because if it is really due to toxoplasmosis, the parasite can reach other tissues and form cysts, where they remain dormant, but they can be reactivated and lead to more serious symptoms.
Toxoplasmosis is an infectious disease caused by a parasite, the Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), which can be transmitted to people through the consumption of raw or undercooked beef or lamb contaminated by the parasite or through contact with the feces of infected cats, since the cat is the habitual host of the parasite. Learn more about toxoplasmosis.
Toxoplasmosis symptoms
In most cases of infection by Toxoplasma gondii no signs or symptoms of infection are identified, as the body is able to fight the parasite. However, when the immune system is more compromised due to illness, other infections or use of drugs, for example, it is possible that some symptoms are identified, such as:
- Constant headache;
- Fever;
- Excessive tiredness;
- Muscle pain;
- Sore throat;
In people who have a more compromised immune system, such as HIV carriers, who have chemotherapy, who have recently undergone transplantation or who use immunosuppressive drugs, there may also be more serious symptoms, such as difficulty in breathing, shortness of breath, mental confusion and seizures, for example.
The most serious symptoms, although they can happen more easily among people who have the lowest immunity, can also happen in people who have not followed the treatment correctly for toxoplasmosis. This is because the parasite spreads in the body, enters the tissues and forms cysts, remaining in the body without causing signs or symptoms. However, when there are conditions that favor the infection, the parasite can be reactivated and lead to the appearance of more serious signs and symptoms of the infection.
Symptoms of infection in the baby
Although in most cases toxoplasmosis in pregnancy does not lead to the appearance of signs or symptoms, it is important that the woman perform the tests indicated in pregnancy to check whether she has come into contact with the parasite or is infected. This is because if the woman is infected, it is possible that she transmits the infection to the baby, since this parasite can cross the placenta, reach the baby and cause complications.
Thus, if toxoplasmosis infects the baby, depending on the gestational age, it can cause abortion, premature birth or congenital toxoplasmosis, which can lead to the appearance of some signs and symptoms, such as:
- Frequent seizures;
- Microcephaly;
- Hydrocephalus, which is the accumulation of fluid in the brain;
- Yellow skin and eyes;
- Hair loss;
- Mental retardation;
- Inflammation of the eyes;
- Blindness.
When the infection happens in the first trimester of pregnancy, although the risk of infection is lower, the complications are more serious and the baby is born with the changes. However, when the infection is acquired in the third trimester of pregnancy, the baby is more likely to be infected, however in most cases the baby remains asymptomatic and the symptoms of toxoplasmosis develop during childhood and adolescence.
See more about the risks of toxoplasmosis in pregnancy.
How the diagnosis is made
The diagnosis of toxoplasmosis is made through laboratory tests that identify antibodies produced against the T. gondii, because because the parasite can be present in several tissues, its identification in the blood, for example, may not be so easy.
For this reason, the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis is made by measuring IgG and IgM, which are antibodies produced by the body and which increase rapidly when there is infection with this parasite. It is important that the levels of IgG and IgM are related to the signs and symptoms presented by the person so that the doctor can complete the diagnosis. In addition to the levels of IgG and IgM, molecular tests, such as CRP, can also be performed to identify infection by T. gondii. Learn more about IgG and IgM.