Toxoplasmosis is called the pathology caused by the simplest parasites - toxoplasmas. Toxoplasmosis in humans affects the muscles, nervous system, eyes, leads to an increase in the spleen, liver and lymph nodes. The disease is very widespread and characteristic to a greater extent for young people. It is especially dangerous for women during pregnancy.
Toxoplasmosis in humans: causes
Toxoplasma can reproduce both sexually and asexually. With sexual reproduction, cysts form in the human intestines . They are highly resistant to any environmental factors: drying, low and high temperatures. Cysts exit the body along with feces and exist in the environment, again infecting people and animals. Toxoplasmosis in humans can appear due to contact with an infected animal, because many species of both domesticated and wild mammals and birds suffer from this pathology. But reproduction of cysts through sexual contact can occur only in animals belonging to the cat family. So, a cat is capable of isolating up to two billion cysts that can live in the external environment for up to two years in two weeks of the course of the disease. In the case of asexual reproduction, persistent forms of parasites are not formed. So, you can get infected with toxoplasmosis with:
- caring for infected animals;
- eating poorly fried meat or contact with raw meat (for example, housewives often taste raw minced meat);
- the use of unwashed vegetables, herbs, fruits (they may contain cysts);
- blood transfusion or organ transplant.
Toxoplasmosis in humans: types and forms of the disease
Pathology can be not only acquired, but also congenital, when infection of the fetus occurs as a result of the presence of the disease in the mother. In general, toxoplasmosis can occur in latent, chronic or acute form. The congenital pathology is most severe. And the acquired illness usually does not cause almost any symptoms. When toxoplasma enters the human body, they actively multiply in the intestines, and then with the blood stream they penetrate into other organs, causing inflammation in them. So, parasites affect the retina, heart muscle, and liver. They can be in the body, not showing activity, until the impetus for this is a decrease in immunity or the influence of any adverse factors.
Toxoplasmosis in humans: symptoms
The disease manifests itself differently depending on the form of the course. The most severe symptoms occur in children with congenital toxoplasmosis. Moreover, if the fetus became infected early in pregnancy, it dies in the womb due to the formation of malformations incompatible with life. If infection occurs in the second half of pregnancy, the baby is born with the defeat of all systems and organs. It can have yellowness of the skin, low muscle tone, constantly elevated temperature, enlarged lymph nodes, spleen, liver, encephalomyelitis, skin rash, strabismus or blindness, an improperly formed spinal cord or brain. With acquired toxoplasmosis, proceeding chronically or latently, the symptoms do not appear, with the exception of irritability, apathy, low-grade fever, weakness, and visual disturbances.
Diagnosis of Toxoplasmosis
It is possible to detect the presence of toxoplasma in the body during a parasitological study. To do this, analyze the cells for toxoplasmosis. A positive result with a 100% guarantee will allow you to make a diagnosis. But the negative will not always indicate the absence of the disease, as sometimes toxoplasmas in biological fluids are not detected. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay is used to detect antibodies to toxoplasmosis. To do this, take a blood test for toxoplasmosis.
Treatment
Pathology should be treated only when there are clinical manifestations. In this case, antibiotics, chemotherapeutic agents, antihistamines and sulfa drugs are prescribed. Additionally, vitamins of a general strengthening effect may be indicated.