Toxoplasmosis - Medtick
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Toxoplasmosis

What is it?

A protozoa condition caused by the most common parasite in the world from an infected cat and It cannot be passed from person to person.

  • It can be serious if one has a weak immune system.
  • The parasite is not infectious until one to five days after being excreted by an infected cat, but it can survive in the environment or litter box for over a year. This is why it’s important to carefully change your cat’s litter box every day.
  • All fruits and vegetables you eat should also be washed thoroughly.

Countries where outbreaks have occurred:

South America

  • Brazil

Cause

  • Parasite: Toxoplasma gondii
  • During lambing season
  • Found in uncooked raw meat
  • Unwashed fruits and vegetables
  • Raw cured meat, e.g. Parma ham, salami
  • Contaminated utensils cut from raw meats or under cooked meats
  • Unpasteurised goats milk and cheese
  • Cat faeces
  • Soil or cat litter with contained faeces
  • From infected mother during pregnancy
  • From infected mother up to 30 months before she conceives

Treatments

  • Blood transfusions
  • Infected organ transplant

Symptoms

  • Aching, painful muscles, muscle cramps/spasms/stiffness?
  • High temperature greater than 38°C (100°F) or over and/or chills and sweats longer than 72 hours?
  • General discomfort (muscle weakness), uneasiness or ill feeling (malaise) and/or fatigue (tiredness)?
  • Sore throat longer than seven days or more?
  • Swollen lymph glands (lumps on side of neck, armpits, and groin) and/or reoccurring mouth ulcers?
  • Deafness?
  • Headache which is on and off or a constant headache longer than 24 hours?
  • Initially a persistent dry cough which has now become a chesty cough with yellow/green and/or blood stained phlegm?
  • Dry cough longer than three weeks or breathing difficulties?
  • Wounds in brain/head area?
  • Swollen or sticky eye or sensitive to light?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

Medical Emergency Condition

And/or do not wait, phone for an ambulance if  have or develop:

  • Cerebral toxocariasis (if condition reaches to brain):
  • Ocular toxocariasis:
    • Blurred vision
    • Floaters (small shapes floating in your field of vision)
    • Reduced vision or loss of vision
  • learning disabilities
  • Liver disease
  • Enlarged Spleen
  • Cerebral palsy
  • If get into lungs:
    • Breathing difficulties
    • Wheezing
    • Shortness of breath
    • Heart palpitations

Pregnancy

If one is pregnant or planning to be pregnant it can lead to:

  • Congenital toxoplasmosis (unborn child having the condition)
  • Hydrocephalus (fluid on the baby’s brain)
  • Brain damage
  • Epilepsy
  • Hearing loss
  • Ocular toxocariasis
    • Blurred vision
    • Floaters (small shapes floating in your field of vision)
    • Reduced vision or loss of vision
  • Learning disabilities
  • Liver disease
  • Enlarged Spleen
  • Cerebral palsy

This condition may show similar symptoms to:

H.I.V Test

  • A H.I.V test should be offered if one has this condition.

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice

Detailed Information

Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Toxoplasmosis in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).

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