Toxoplasmosis
Treatment:
No treatment is indicated in asymptomatic
people, except children, to prevent retinal inflammation.
Treatment of women in pregnancy
is controversial because of the toxicity of the medications,
but treatment is still advocated. Medications to treat the
infection include pyrimethamine, sulfonamide drugs, folinic
acid, clindamycin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. Treatment
in AIDS patients is continued
indefinitely, because the infection may reactivate if treatment
is discontinued.
Expectations (prognosis):
Acute infection in
children may cause retinochoroiditis (inflammation of the
retina). Toxoplasmosis
in adults has a good prognosis (probable outcome) if the immune
system is healthy. Chronic
asymptomatic infection
is usually benign.
Complications:
- spread of the infection in immunocompromised hosts (can
be fatal)
- permanent disability in infants (blindness,
learning disorders, and so on)
- recurrence of the disease
Calling your health care provider:
Call for an appointment with your health care provider if
symptoms of toxoplasmosis occur. Urgent or emergency conditions
exist if the disorder occurs in an immunosuppressed
person or in a baby, or if confusion,
seizures, or other severe
symptoms develop.
Update Date: 02/09/00
Updated by: J. Gordon Lambert, MD, Associate Medical Director,
Utah Health Informatics and adam.com
editorial
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