Symptoms:

Most primary infections produce no symptoms. The time between exposure to the parasite and symptom development is 1 - 2 weeks. The disease can affect the brain, lung, heart, eyes, or liver.

Symptoms in persons with otherwise healthy immune systems:

• Enlarged lymph nodes in the head and neck
• Headache
• Mild illness with fever, similar to mononucleosis
• Muscle pain
• Sore throat

Symptoms in immunosuppressed persons:

• Confusion
• Fever
• Headache
• Retinal inflammation that causes blurred vision
• Seizures

For symptoms in babies born with the condition, see congenital toxoplasmosis.

Signs and tests:

Tests to determine infection or to find cysts related to this infection:

• Antibody titers for toxoplasmosis
• Cranial CT scan
• MRI of head
• Slit lamp exam
• Brain biopsy

Treatment:

Those without symptoms typically do not need treatment.

Medications to treat the infection include an antimalarial drug and antibiotics. AIDS patients should continue treatment for as long as their immune system is weak to prevent the disease from reactivating.

For information regarding treatment of babies and pregnant women, see congenital toxoplasmosis.

Expectations (prognosis):

Acute infection in children may cause swelling of the retina in the eye.

In adults with a healthy immune system, toxoplasmosis has a good outcome.

Complications:

• Permanent disability, such as blindness or learning disorders, in infants with congenital toxoplasmosis
• Return of the disease
• Spread of infection in a person with a weakened immune system (can be deadly)

Calling your health care provider:

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if you develop symptoms of toxoplasmosis. This disorder requires urgent or emergency care if it occurs in an immunosuppressed person or in a baby, or if confusion, seizures, or other severe symptoms develop.

Prevention:

Tips for preventing this condition:

• Avoid undercooked meats.
• Freeze meat to minus 20 degrees Celsius for 2 days.
• Wash hands after handling raw meat.
• Protect children's play areas from cat and dog feces.
• Wash your hands thoroughly after contact with soil that may be contaminated with animal feces.
• Pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems should avoid cleaning cat litter boxes and materials that are potentially infected with cat feces. They should also avoid materials that could be contaminated by insects exposed to cat feces (cockroaches, flies, etc.).
• Pregnant women should have a blood test for toxoplasmosis.
• Patients with HIV disease should have blood tests to screen for toxoplasmosis.