Toxoplasmosis is a contagious disease caused by intracellular parasites. The way of transmission of parasites is alimentary. It affects the nervous system, skeletal muscles, myocardium, liver and spleen. There is congenital and acquired toxoplasmosis. Symptoms in children depend on the degree of damage to the body and the ability of the immune system to resist the disease. The disease tends to become chronic. This article talks about toxoplasmosis in children. Symptoms, causes and diagnosis of the disease are also detailed in the relevant sections of the material.
Epidemiology
Toxoplasmosis belongs to the group of diseases with natural foci and is characterized by a fairly wide range of hosts. Toxoplasmosis affects wild animals - rats, hares, monkeys, as well as domestic animals - cats, dogs, cows. In view of the very close contact of these animals with humans, humans are also infected. Also, infection occurs through dirty hands. Toxoplasmosis (symptoms in children are detailedbelow) is often passed on to children through animal meat and chicken eggs.
Causes of disease
The causative agent of the disease is the intracellular parasite Toxoplasma gondii. The parasite has a size of about 5x3 microns, and is shaped like an orange slice, one edge of which is sharper than the other. Toxoplasma reproduce asexually in various host tissues - liver, placenta, central nervous system. Due to immature immunity, children in the womb are unable to resist such a dangerous parasite as toxoplasmosis. Symptoms in children who become infected from their mother during pregnancy do not manifest themselves in a way that is visible to the mother. It is believed that if the disease is in the active stage of the mother, then the child is sick.
Main sources of infection
Toxoplasma oocysts are found in soil, children's sandboxes, cat litter, and undercooked meat and eggs.
Very often, children become infected from domestic cats and dogs, after eating poorly cooked meat and from infected animals.
Congenital toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis is divided into two types: congenital and acquired. The congenital variant of the disease is transmitted to the child in the womb. This situation is very dangerous for the he alth of the baby. Thus, the transmission of the disease in early pregnancy almost always leads to spontaneous abortion. In the case when infection occurs in the second trimester of pregnancy, the fetus oftenreceives irreversible damage to the central nervous system. In such cases, doctors refer the pregnant woman for premature birth. Pregnancy can end relatively favorably in cases where toxoplasmosis was detected in children in the third trimester. Symptoms of the disease in this case can be detected only at the birth of the baby. Maternal manifestations are possible, but they are not always possible to differentiate from the common cold, since in adults this disease proceeds quite mildly and imperceptibly. Detection of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women usually occurs by chance, during routine tests. Symptoms of toxoplasmosis in children can be noticed only after birth. Children infected in utero in the third trimester of pregnancy have a fairly high chance of recovery without critical complications.
Acquired toxoplasmosis
This type of disease is much less dangerous for a child and in most cases can be successfully treated or regresses on its own. Without treatment, the disease can also become chronic. Young children suffering from toxoplasmosis can carry this disease in acute and chronic forms. The second is diagnosed less frequently, as it often occurs without clinically pronounced symptoms. The acute form of the disease is severe, but successfully treated.
Diagnosis of toxoplasmosis
Doctors are trying to cover in detail the problem of infection of children with a disease such as toxoplasmosis. Symptoms, analysis, treatmentin children are covered in detail in popular science articles and magazines for mothers. However, due to the fact that the disease most often occurs without pronounced clinical signs, mothers do not notice its onset and mistake the symptoms of toxoplasmosis in the acute period for SARS.
To diagnose a disease, a serological blood test is performed to determine antibodies to the causative agent of the disease. Fundus examination, ECG and EEG evaluation, skull X-ray, and examination of affected muscles can play a supporting role in the diagnosis.
Symptoms of toxoplasmosis
The incubation period after toxoplasma enters the body lasts from 2 days to 3 weeks, but can be extended up to several months. The duration of this period depends on the activity of Toxoplasma, the state of the child's immunity and the massiveness of the infection.
Toxoplasmosis in children symptoms (treatment, causes are described in detail in this article) in the acute period has the following:
- a sharp rise in temperature to +38С;
- increase in the size of the liver and spleen;
- weakness, headache and drowsiness of the child;
- chills, muscle pain, joint pain;
- loss of appetite;
- generalized maculopapular rash on the surface of the skin;
- swollen lymph nodes throughout the body;
- eye disorder - can be clouded lens or strabismus.
All these manifestations of the disease indicate that inthe child's body has got a large number of parasites, and children's immunity is not able to cope with the pathogen. In this situation, the child requires immediate treatment.
Toxoplasmosis in children, symptoms, types of this disease are very similar to the manifestations of many diseases known to mothers - SARS, influenza. Therefore, with any alarming symptoms, you should consult a doctor.
Symptoms of toxoplasmosis in children occurring in a chronic form may not manifest themselves at all, however, parents should be alerted by the situation when the child periodically experiences mild symptoms listed above.
Disease prevention
Toxoplasmosis symptoms in children are mild, a child without he alth consequences can live with the disease all his life. However, not every organism is able to adequately resist the pathogen, so parents should take care of preventing the disease and protecting the child from infection.
Preventive measures should be as follows:
- Pets should be periodically checked for toxoplasmosis.
- If there are sick animals in the house, the child's communication with them should be limited to the maximum extent possible. In particular, a child should not have access to a cat litter box, and cats should only sleep in designated areas.
- Meat and egg products must be carefullyheat treated.
- Children's play areas should be kept clean.
- The child must follow the rules of personal hygiene - wash hands before eating and after walking, eat thoroughly peeled fruits and vegetables.
- Pregnant women must be tested for antibodies to Toxoplasma, and newborns must be checked at birth. Seronegative diagnostic methods should be repeated in each trimester of pregnancy.
- During pregnancy, a woman should limit contact with animals and be careful about the choice of products.
Toxoplasmosis treatment
Treatment of the disease is prescribed by an infectious disease specialist or therapist and is carried out under their control. During treatment, indicators of the hematopoietic function of the body, liver tests and indicators of kidney function are strictly controlled.
A set of anti-toxoplasma drugs usually includes hormonal therapy (glucocorticoids), the removal of allergic manifestations with antihistamines. Stimulants of the hematopoietic function of the body, sedatives and vitamin complexes are also used.
Children who have had acute toxoplasmosis, as well as those who have the disease in a chronic form, are regularly examined by a neurologist, ophthalmologist and infectious disease specialist for reinfection and complications.
