Toxoplasmosis: what is it? Causes, Symptoms and Treatment of Disease

Toxoplasmosis is an extremely dangerous parasitic disease, the causative agent of which is toxoplasm. These microscopic protozoa are capable of affecting various organs of the human body, leading to damage to the eyes, skeletal muscles and heart. Questions about why it develops toxoplasmosis, what it is and what its signs are, are very relevant. After all, an infected person needs medical help.

Toxoplasmosis: what is it and what are its causes?

As already mentioned, toxoplasm is a microscopic representative of the protozoans, which parasitizes inside cells. Like many other parasites, it has a relatively complex development cycle. The final owner in this case are representatives of the cat family, including ordinary domestic cats. In their intestines parasites reproduce, forming cysts, which, together with the fecal masses, enter the external environment.

It is worth noting that mature cysts are extremely stable and can remain viable for several years, being in the external environment. Infection of a person, usually occurs when contact with a cat or when eating unwashed fruits, vegetables, improperly cooked meat. Occasionally, infection occurs during contact with the blood of a sick animal, which often occurs among workers in the meat-packing plant. Possible transmission from mother to child during pregnancy and childbirth.

Toxoplasmosis: symptoms

In people who, by the way, are only intermediate hosts of parasites, the clinical picture depends on many factors. Penetrating through the gastrointestinal tract, the cysts enter the small intestine, from where, together with the current, the lymphs migrate to the lymph nodes, where they grow. In the future, parasites can be transmitted to different organs, hitting cells and disrupting their normal functioning. Typically, the incubation period lasts up to three weeks.

The main symptoms of the disease depend on the place in which the accumulation of parasites is located. If they penetrate the eyes, retinal and vascular lesions are observed. Often parasites spread to the myocardium, which is fraught with pericarditis, inflammation of the heart muscle and is accompanied by pain in the chest and severe shortness of breath.

In those cases where the congestion of microorganisms is in the lymph nodes, their inflammation, increase and soreness is observed. Along with this, the spleen and liver increase.

There is also a meningoencephalitic toxoplasmosis. What it is? This form of the disease is accompanied by the defeat of the nervous system, which leads to the appearance of meningitis, vasculitis and encephalitis. Sometimes the spinal cord and peripheral nerve fibers are affected.

In the generalized form of the disease, all the above-described disorders in a complex with weakness, pain and aches in muscles, elevated temperature are inherent in one way or another.

If the patient has not been given appropriate treatment, chronic toxoplasmosis develops. This transition is possible due to the presence of persistent cysts, which are deposited in the cells of the body, where they can be years in an inactive state. The weakening of the immune system leads to activation of the life cycle of cysts, which provokes a relapse of the disease.

Toxoplasmosis: what is it and how to get rid of it?

In some cases, the infection fades in itself. But most often the patient needs medical care, especially when it comes to a pregnant woman. To begin with, symptomatic treatment is performed , which depends on the symptoms present - for this purpose, painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, antihistamines and other means are used.

To eliminate parasites, therapy is carried out with the help of Sulfadiazine and Pirimetamine. If necessary, immunocorrection using vitamin complexes, immunomodulators and other restorative agents is indicated.