How To Detect Ocular Toxoplasmosis?
Ocular toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii . It is a very common infection, affecting almost 500 million people worldwide. However, not all those infected develop this specific pathology in the eyes.
Those who express symptoms or consequences of toxoplasmosis are people with a weakened immune system or who acquired the infection before birth, in the womb. However, the eye shape can be difficult to detect and often progresses to blurred vision or even blindness.
What is toxoplasmosis?
In order to understand ocular toxoplasmosis, we will first explain how this parasite infection occurs. The Toxoplasma gondii usually multiply and stay in cats. In this way, when the cat defecates, it expels its eggs in the feces.
This is one of the forms of contagion. However, most people become infected because it is also often present in food. For example, in fruits, vegetables and meat. When a contaminated uncooked product is ingested, the infection can be acquired. It is also found in water or milk.
Another way to get the infection is during pregnancy. When a pregnant woman first comes in contact with toxoplasma, it can cross the placenta and reach the baby.
The latter case is the one most frequently associated with ocular toxoplasmosis. Depending on the moment of gestation in which the contact occurs, the damage that appears in the fetus will be more or less serious. In the first trimester it is associated with the highest risk of malformations and complications.
How does ocular toxoplasmosis occur?
Most of the time the infection is asymptomatic at first. However, a reactivation can occur after a certain time of contact, which would lead to a first injury to the eye that produces a scar, which usually goes unnoticed.
As the infection reactivates, the specific symptoms of ocular toxoplasmosis begin to express themselves. This happens because the parasite lodges in the retina, which is the part of the eye that allows the interpretation of images and the sense of vision. The retina becomes inflamed (this process is called retinitis ) and vision is compromised.
A study by the Spanish Society of Ophthalmology affirms that recurrent ocular toxoplasmosis is the most frequent. However, it can also appear in relation to AIDS or under continuous treatment with corticosteroids or immunosuppressants.
How is ocular toxoplasmosis detected?
The diagnosis of ocular toxoplasmosis can be very complex. It should be done on a clinical basis, that is, observing the lesions in the eye. This is because the tests that are available can only confirm whether or not there has been contact with the parasite.
For example, serologies, which allow us to see if there are antibodies against said infection, only indicate if at some point that person was infected. But, as we mentioned before, many have been and do not have to develop ocular toxoplasmosis.
What an ophthalmologist observes directly is a focal lesion of the retina together with a scar that also affects the choroid. The choroid is another membrane that is part of the eye.
Laboratory tests can help guide the diagnosis, but they do not confirm it. It is important that an exhaustive eye examination is carried out and that it is carried out by a professional specialized in the subject, so that minimal signs of the presence are not obviated.
How is ocular toxoplasmosis treated?
Ocular toxoplasmosis causes blurred vision, eye pain, and sensitivity to light. In some cases, it can even cause blindness. Unfortunately, to date there is no treatment that allows to reverse the injuries.
Therapy helps prevent the extent of damage to the retina and prevent further recurrences. It prevents the parasite from replicating and spreading with the combination of antiparasitics, such as pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine.
In addition, methylprednisone is usually added, which is a corticosteroid that helps reduce inflammation. Similarly, folic acid supplements are prescribed to avoid the side effects of pyrimethamine.
Prevent so as not to arrive at harm
The most effective way to avoid ocular toxoplasmosis are preventive measures against this parasite. Doctors recommend cooking all foods to avoid contagion. In addition, in the case of pregnant women, great emphasis is placed on taking special care with cats.
In the same way, we must bear in mind that before any symptoms, the first thing is to go to an ophthalmologist. Detecting injuries quickly can help prevent eye damage from spreading.
