Symptoms of chronic toxoplasmosis. Toxoplasmosis: treatment

No matter what diseases there are at the present time. This and viral infections, and fungal diseases, and even parasitic. One of these diseases is toxoplasmosis. In the article, we will try to understand the following questions: what is toxoplasmosis, the causes and symptoms, the diagnosis of the disease.

We used to believe that if there is a disease, then there must be symptoms, but this disease is different in that it can last for years without any obvious signs.

Pathogen of the disease

In the world of protozoa there is a huge number of organisms that can cause various diseases in humans and animals. One of such parasites is the causative agent of toxoplasmosis - this is Toxoplasma gondi. The carriers of the disease are cats and dogs. And it does not matter, whether it is a domestic animal or a stray animal.

The parasite develops and multiplies in the body of these animals and, together with the feces, enters the environment. Taking care of your pets, you are at great risk of catching this disease.

Often small children who play in the sandbox can accidentally come into contact with the faeces of animals - this is a good opportunity for the pathogen to enter the body. Even the usual tingling of stray puppies or kittens can lead to infection if the animals are carriers of this parasite.

Toxoplasmosis is strongly susceptible to external influences, so it is easily destroyed by heat treatment, and also under the influence of chemical preparations.

If you compare this disease with others in terms of prevalence, then it is much inferior. It is mainly found in the countries of South and Latin America, where more than 90% of the population is infected with this pathogen.

Ways of infection

If there was a chronic toxoplasmosis in men, the infection could occur in several ways:

1. Orally.
2. Transplacental.
3. During blood transfusion or transplantation of organs.

Very many animals are intermediate hosts of pathogens of toxoplasmosis, so you can get infected by using insufficiently thermally processed meat. Also, if your pet has parasites in the body, then if it spills on your skin and mucous membranes, infection may occur. To avoid this, try not to kiss your pets, wash your hands thoroughly after cleaning the animal tray and keep his dishes clean.

In the transplacental way, infection occurs through the placenta, when the child is still in the womb. Particularly dangerous in this regard is the first trimester of pregnancy: if at this time there is an infection, we can ascertain congenital toxoplasmosis. Symptoms are quite clear, and the disease in 20% of cases is difficult.

Infection during a blood transfusion or organ transplantation is very rare, but for people with weak immunity the risk of catching the disease persists.

After entering the body, the parasite settles in the intestine, and then, multiply enough, reaches with a current of lymph nodes of the lymph nodes. In this period, you can see their increase. After a while, the pathogens are carried with blood flow throughout the body and can settle in all organs and tissues.

Species of toxoplasmosis

When diagnosing "toxoplasmosis", the symptoms and symptoms may vary depending on the form of the disease. There are several types of disease:

1. Acute toxoplasmosis.
2. Cerebral.
3. Congenital.
4. Eye.
5. Common.
6. Chronic.

All these species can still be divided into two groups: acquired and congenital toxoplasmosis. The child receives an innate form from an infected mother during intrauterine development, and all forms of acquired toxoplasmosis a person can get at any time during life.

Symptoms of chronic toxoplasmosis

Quite often, the acute form of toxoplasmosis gradually changes into chronic. This variety is characterized by periods of exacerbation and remission. Has chronic toxoplasmosis dangerous symptoms, among which one can note the following:

• Intoxication of the body;
• Myalgia;
• arthralgia;
• irritability;
• Memory impairment;
• Thickening in the muscles;
• myocarditis;
• Manifestations of vegetative-vascular dystonia (in some cases);
• Violations in the endocrine sphere.

It is very difficult to diagnose, as the symptoms of chronic toxoplasmosis are very similar to many diseases. For example, herpes, chlamydia and some cancers have a similar symptomatology.

The chronic toxoplasmosis flows wavy, the periods of exacerbations are replaced by short remissions.

Acute period of the disease

After entering the pathogens in the human body for 2-3 weeks, the incubation period lasts. Practically at all at this time antibodies which form immunity without display of disease start to be developed. This condition is called - primary latent toxoplasmosis.

Identify the presence of infection in the body is possible only with the help of tests. If a person's immunity is weak, then there is a chronic toxoplasmosis. Symptoms in this case are more pronounced. There is an acute phase that develops quite violently and resembles meningitis or encephalitis.

That is why it is so important to conduct a complete examination of the patient in order to identify the causes of such a condition and make a correct diagnosis. The most frequent symptoms of an acute form of the disease are:

• High temperature, which is not knocked down by antipyretic agents;
• A person throws, then in a fever, then in a cold;
• Weakness in the whole body;
• Rash on the body (in some cases);
• Muscles lose their tone;
• Problems with vision;
• Increased lymph nodes;
• Development of pneumonia;
• A sharp decrease in memory;
• Violation of sleep and appetite.

Symptoms of chronic toxoplasmosis are difficult to treat. Therefore, this form of the disease can generally end in a fatal outcome. Sometimes only in the course of a thorough examination can indicate the diagnosis of "toxoplasmosis" symptoms. And treatment will be required depending on the severity of the disease. If therapy is successful, then recovery and transfer of the disease into a latent form is possible.

Diagnosis of toxoplasmosis

It is possible to diagnose only after a comprehensive examination and laboratory confirmation. The prerequisites for this disease, that is, contact with cats, eating habits, professional affiliation, are also taken into account.

The methods used in laboratory diagnostics can be divided into two groups:

1. Parasitological.
2. Immunological.

Since the chronic toxoplasmosis symptoms are very different, and sometimes they are generally smoothened or not manifest, then the diagnosis is difficult. This leads to a comprehensive examination involving different methods.

Parasitological methods are based on the detection of a pathogen by conducting a bioassay. Here it is possible to carry: a microscopy of smears from tonsils, lymphonoduses, carrying out of researches of histological preparations of the amazed or struck organs.

Most often the second group of methods is used - immunological ones. They consist of serological reactions and an intradermal test. These tests are quite accurate and allow you to determine the state of infection and morbidity.

Therapy of toxoplasmosis

The majority of doctors are sure that toxoplasmosis practically does not lend itself to complete cure. Pathogens and antibodies to them will be for life in the body of a person who has toxoplasmosis (symptoms, diagnosis). Treatment is long-term. Despite the fact that it is not possible to completely cure, it is quite possible to prevent serious consequences.

Among the drugs that are used, you can call these:

• Antiparasitic agents;
• "Pirametamine", "Sulfadimezin" (they are most often used);
• Antibiotics from the group of macrolides: "Clarithromycin", "Spiromycin";
• Antifungal medicines;
• Antiviral drugs.

It should be recalled that the treatment is carried out only if the diagnosis is fully confirmed.

Currently, medicine perfectly copes with acute toxoplasmosis with the help of antibiotics and chemotherapy. The treatment is rather lengthy and consists of several courses. In each case, the symptoms of chronic toxoplasmosis are eliminated by individual schemes.

Treatment of the disease

If with the treatment of the acute form everything is clear, then the chronic is hard to heal. Moreover, given that it is impossible to completely cure, but only there is a possibility of translation into a latent form.

Chemotherapy, which is effective in the acute phase, in this case will not give the desired result. The emphasis is on immunomodulatory treatment, which contributes to the mood of the body's immune system to counteract toxoplasm.

Usually, chronic forms of toxoplasmosis are treated only in acute form, but there are some cases when it is impossible to wait for obvious manifestations.

Such exceptions include the threat of miscarriage during pregnancy or the likelihood of infertility, vision problems. The main direction in treatment is to eliminate clinical manifestations of the disease and improve the patient's condition.

In the case of a mildly expressed form of chronic toxoplasmosis, in the first stages, Pirametamine is administered in conjunction with Sulfadiazine and folic acid. It should be noted that the treatment can last for a whole year.

Toxoplasmosis and pregnancy

Before planning pregnancy, a woman is not so terrible with toxoplasmosis. Symptoms and treatment may be different, but there are certainly antibodies in the body.

If infection occurs during pregnancy, then this is already a danger to the baby and mom. It should be taken into account that the risk of infection only increases with an increase in the term. If in the first trimester it is 15%, then in the third one it is 60%. But the severity of the disease, on the contrary, decreases.

The fruit, infected in the first three months, is almost doomed to death. If the child is born, it will have serious pathologies of the brain, liver, spleen and other internal organs.

What is the danger of toxoplasm

Toxoplasmosis is very rare, only 1-5% of all infected. In others, it is asymptomatic. Its vivid manifestations can be seen in people with immunodeficiency. Such patients develop myocarditis, encephalitis.

Many people think that if symptoms of chronic toxoplasmosis do not appear, then treatment is not required, but this is not the case. If the pathogens have little effect on men, in the body of a woman, especially if she is going to become a mother, they can become dangerous, because they penetrate the placenta into the fetus and cause irreparable harm to the fetus. This can result in the death of the child or the development of various deformities.

Consequences of the disease

If a person acquires toxoplasmosis during a lifetime, the disease may well proceed without any symptoms. Most people do not even suspect that there is such a parasite in their bodies.

Acquired during pregnancy, the disease will not pass without a trace for the baby. Infection at the end of pregnancy will result in the child being born with an acute form of toxoplasmosis, which will be manifested by fever, rash, and damage to the internal organs.

In other cases, the disease will have a latent form, which occurs with exacerbations. At first glance, the child is quite normal, but detailed examination reveals lesions of the nervous system, sensory organs.

In some cases, exacerbation can occur only in adolescence, when hormonal changes in the body are observed.

At present, considering the insidiousness of toxoplasm, in the antenatal clinic, pregnant women are made mandatory analysis for the detection of infection. But it is desirable that women at the stage of pregnancy planning undergo such examination and take all precautions in case of detection of the pathogen.

Prophylaxis of toxoplasmosis

Since the disease is very dangerous for pregnant women, some measures must be taken to prevent it. We examined what toxoplasmosis is, the symptoms of the disease. Prevention of such diseases plays a big, if not the most important, role. Among the main preventive measures are the following:

1. Do not eat thermally unprocessed meat and fish.
2. When cooking cutlets do not have the habit of trying raw minced meat.
3. Wash your hands thoroughly after contact with your pet, especially after cleaning your toilet.
4. Check the pets for this pathogen.
5. During pregnancy, try to avoid visiting friends who have domestic cats and dogs.

If a person (especially a woman) to observe these simple rules, it is possible to stay healthy and ensure your baby normal development.

Treat your health responsibly and seriously: if unusual symptoms are found, do not let everything go by itself, consult a doctor and go through the examination. Then you will have every reason to avoid serious complications.