Toxoplasmosis - Symptom, Treatment And Causes

Toxoplasmosis is an infection that is caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. The parasite is found in uncooked meat, cat feces, especially meats like lamb, pork and venison. This parasite can also be transmitted through water that is contaminated. It can really be fatal for a fetus and can cause serious birth defects if the mother goes infected with this disease, during gravidity and childbirth. This is the reason why all doctors advise gestating women not to scoop or clean cat litters during her pregnancy.

Most people who get infected will never have any symptoms at all. People those who have a compromised immune system are most affected with this disease. In very rare cases, this infection may get transmitted through a transplanted organ or through blood transfusion in between people. Cats and other warm-bodied animals don’t usually show signs of this infectious disease, even though they the host of Toxoplasma gondii parasite.

The symptoms of toxoplasmosis in humans is mostly like flu which includes, headache, fever, body aches, fatigue, rashes. But it also affects the immune system and there can be other serious health problems like confusion, lack of concentration, problems in vision, trouble in breathing, seizures, swelling in lymph nodes etc.

Toxoplasmosis causes:

• Eating food which is undercooked or contaminated
• Using contaminated utensils or contaminated knife for preparing food
• Skin contact, gardening, cleaning litter boxes, coming in direct contact or oral exposure to cat feces.
• Consuming food which has been direct contact of an infected cat.
• By eating unwashed fruits and vegetables and drinking contaminated water
• Poor hygiene of hands after touching contaminated meat
• Transplanting infected blood or by receiving infected organ

Toxoplasmosis test:

Once you show signs the doctor will perform a blood test to check for antibodies to this parasite. An antibody is a kind of protein, that the immune system produces when it gets threatened by injurious and unsafe substances. When the antibodies, detect foreign substances in the body, it detects it by surface markers called antigens. So once an antibody has developed against any particular antigen, it remains in the blood, to protect the body against future infections with that particular foreign substance.

If you have ever been exposed to Toxoplasma gondii parasite, certain antibodies will be there in your blood, which will make your blood test appear positive for the Toxoplasma gondii antibodies. However, this positive result does not mean that you are presently affected by this disease. So, the doctor will perform further blood tests to figure out exactly when you were infected with this parasite.

For pregnant women, who are detected of active infection, the medical practitioner may test the fetus’ blood and the mother’s amniotic fluid. Ultrasound scans can also help to determine if the fetus has been infected with the Toxoplasma gondii parasite. If it is found that the fetus is infected, the doctor may advise for termination of the pregnancy, depending on the gestational age of the baby. If not, the doctor will possibly prescribe antibiotics to reduce the symptoms of this deadly infection on the gestating baby.

For children, newborns who survived this infection have lasting consequences on their eyes, brain, lungs and heart. They can also have recurrent seizures and delay in mental and physical development later on in their lives.

Toxoplasmosis treatment:

1. A healthy person with symptoms: medication such as pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine will be recommended by the doctor this helps in removing the symptoms if any without any treatment. Folic acid is prescribed at the time of treatment as pyrimethamine interrupts the absorption of folate in the body. But there can be side effects of medication like toxicity in liver and bone marrow activity gets suppressed.

2. People with HIV or AIDS: people who are suffering from HIV or AIDS are given medication pyrimethamine alongside either sulfadiazine or clindamycin .

3. Pregnant women: If a pregnant woman has toxoplasmosis then the tests vary according to the medical care and where you received it. Antibiotic spiramycin is prescribed by the doctor if the infection in the pregnant woman has occurred during the 16th week of pregnancy. Pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine and folinic acid are given to the unborn baby.

It is curable in humans and can be cured with the help of medication. Even children who are suffering from chronic toxoplasmosis can be cured if diagnosed and treated early.

Toxoplasmosis prevention:

• By avoiding direct exposure with the feces of cats
• Washing hands thoroughly if in direct contact with raw meat or cat
• Eating well-done meat if eating outside
• Cats should not be given raw meat
• Keeping the counter clean while cooking meat

toxoplasmosis natural treatment:

• Change in diet: Changing your diet can help in many ways as it is a good way to cleanse. Alcohol, pork, wheat, processed food, and sugar must be avoided and the intake of raw pumpkin seeds, almonds, ginger, radish, garlic, cabbage must be done as these food are anti-parasitic.
• Nutmeg oil: The essential oils of nutmeg are very helpful for killing toxoplasma gondii as the nutmeg essential oils have significant inhibiting activity against T. gondii.
• Berberine: It is a natural plant alkaloid which has an ability to kill parasites which kill parasites that cause toxoplasmosis.
• Radicchio: Eating radicchio helps in improving symptoms as it has anti-parasitic effects.