The Toxoplasma parasite can persist for long periods of time in the bodies of humans and other animals , possibly even for a lifetime. However, pregnant women and individuals who have compromised immune systems should be cautious; for them, a Toxoplasma infection could cause serious health problems. If you are planning to become pregnant, your health care provider may test you for Toxoplasma gondii. If the test is positive it means you have already been infected sometime in your life. There usually is little need to worry about passing the infection to your baby.
If the test is negative, take necessary precautions to avoid infection See below. If you are already pregnant, you and your health care provider should discuss your risk for toxoplasmosis.
Your health care provider may order a blood sample for testing. If you have a weakened immune system, ask your doctor about having your blood tested for Toxoplasma. If your test is positive, your doctor can tell you if and when you need to take medicine to prevent the infection from reactivating. If your test is negative, it means you need to take precautions to avoid infection.
See below. If you suspect that you may have toxoplasmosis, talk to your health care provider. Your provider may order one or more varieties of blood tests specific for toxoplasmosis.
The results from the different tests can help your provider determine if you have a Toxoplasma gondii infection and whether it is a recent acute infection.
Once a diagnosis of toxoplasmosis is confirmed, you and your health care provider can discuss whether treatment is necessary. In an otherwise healthy person who is not pregnant, treatment usually is not needed. Contact Us. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to page options Skip directly to A-Z link.
Parasites - Toxoplasmosis Toxoplasma infection. Section Navigation. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. Minus Related Pages. Infants who survive are likely to be born with serious problems, such as:. Only a small number of babies who have toxoplasmosis show signs of the disease at birth. Often, infants who are infected don't develop signs — which may include hearing loss, mental disability or serious eye infections — until their teens or later.
If you are living with HIV or AIDS or are pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant, talk to your doctor about being tested if you think you may have been exposed to toxoplasmosis.
The signs and symptoms of severe toxoplasmosis — blurred vision, confusion, loss of coordination — require immediate medical care, particularly if your immune system has been weakened. Toxoplasma gondii T. Because T. Although you can't "catch" toxoplasmosis from an infected child or adult, you can become infected if you:. When a person becomes infected with T. If you're generally healthy, your immune system keeps the parasites in check.
They remain in your body in an inactive state, providing you with lifelong immunity so that you can't become infected with the parasite again. But if your immune system is weakened by disease or certain medications, the infection can be reactivated, leading to serious complications. If you have a normal immune system, you're not likely to experience complications of toxoplasmosis, although otherwise healthy people sometimes develop eye infections.
Untreated, these infections can lead to blindness. In people with AIDS , untreated encephalitis from toxoplasmosis is fatal. Relapse is a constant concern for people with toxoplasmosis who also have a weakened immune system. Children with congenital toxoplasmosis may develop disabling complications, including hearing loss, mental disability and blindness.
0コメント