Pediatric toxoplasmosis
Pediatric toxoplasmosis (toxo·plas·mo·sis) is an infection resulting from a common parasite that causes problems in those with compromised immune systems, including women who are pregnant.
What is pediatric toxoplasmosis?
Toxoplasmosis is a condition that occurs due to an infection by the toxoplasma gondii parasite, which is a very common parasite throughout the world. Being infected by the parasite can cause serious complications for those with weakened immune systems or for infants born to infected mothers. In many cases, pregnant women who become infected with the parasite in the first trimester suffer a miscarriage.
What are the signs and symptoms of pediatric toxoplasmosis?
In many cases, if a child is otherwise healthy, they may show no signs of the infection.
If the infected child is quite young or has a compromised immune system, signs and symptoms of toxoplasmosis include:
- Body aches
- Confusion
- Extreme tiredness
- Fever
- Headache
- Problems with coordination
- Swollen lymph nodes
What are the causes of pediatric toxoplasmosis?
Toxoplasmosis is caused by:
- Being exposed to infected cat feces
- Eating undercooked meat that is contaminated by the parasite
- Mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy