As such, most people will not even be aware that theyve been infected.
Once an infection has occurred, the body’s immune defenses will gradually bring it under control.
Unless the immune defenses arecompromised, the bradyzoites can remain in a dormant state for a lifetime.
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Congenital Symptoms
WhileT.
Risk of Birth Defects
While the risk ofT.
Damage during this early stage of development can be catastrophic.
Common Symptoms
Congenital toxoplasmosis can also increase the risk of miscarriage and stillbirth.
Symptoms can include:
Complications With HIV
Toxoplasmosis rarely affects people with intact immune systems.
It is only when theimmune system is compromisedthat the more serious features of the disease can appear.
The brain is, in fact, the organ most affected whenT.
It is the site where bradyzoites not only proliferate but persist, often for the lifetime of the host.
If left untreated, toxoplasmosis in people with HIV will almost invariably lead to death.
If you have HIV, you may be started earlier.
Frequently Asked Questions
Around 90% of cases are asymptomatic.
The incubation period ofToxoplasma gondii(the parasite that causes toxoplasmosis) is anywhere from 5 to 23 days.
Acute symptoms make take a few weeks to resolve, although lymph nodes can remain swollen for months.
The infection can then enter a latent phase during whichT.
gondiicysts embed themselves in certain tissues (like the lungs or retinas).
In most healthy people, theimmune systemcan keepT.
Toxoplasmosis can be passed from mother to child during pregnancy.
Signs of congenital infection may be present at birth or develop months or years later.
Common symptoms include:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Symptoms of toxoplasmosis.
Straily A, Montgomery S, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Travel-related infections & diseases: toxoplasmosis.
In:Travelers Health.
Madireddy S, Rivas Chacon ED, Mangat R.Toxoplasmosis.
In:StatPearls [Internet].
Basavaraju A.Toxoplasmosis in HIV infection: an overview.Trop Parasitol.
