My daughter has congenital retinal damage that looks like toxmoplasmosis but there is no other indications of that infection and tests were negative. Is ther other virus that would produce the same damage?
Answered by Richard E. Gans, M. D. (reg@ofcn.org)
Toxoplasmosis is a viral infection that can cause severe retina damage, in addition to affecting other organ systems. Most ocular toxoplasmosis is congenital. The disease is caused by a parasite, called Toxoplasma gondii, that is often transmitted in the feces of cats. Humans get infected by eating rare or raw meat of animals that were infected by eating these parasites.
Toxoplasmosis is detected in an infant by clinical examination and by laboratory testing. Characteristic retinal scarring is present in as many as 80% of infants with severe congenital Toxo. Many laboratory tests can be performed, but some are time- specific. Tests for certain antibodies can turn negative with time.
There are other conditions that can mimic ocular Toxoplasmosis. Infants with retinal scarring should be evaluated for possible cytomegalovirus infection, herpes simplex, retinoblastoma, Coat's disease, candidiasis, AIDS and Aicardi's syndrome. Tuberculosis and syphilis can look like Toxo. Other much more rare conditions that can mimic this condition are: nocardiosis, sporotrichosis, cryptococcosis, histoplasmosis, RPE hypertrophy, macular coloboma, toxocariasis and Best's disease. A qualified ophthalmologist will usually be able to distinguish these different conditions based on examination, alone.
There are good medical treatments for active Toxoplasmosis. Anyone suspected of having this condition should be thoroughly examined by an ophthalmologist familiar with its treatment.
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Copyright, 1995. Richard E. Gans, M.D.
A RICHARD E. GANS, M.D. 11
A A OFCN Primary Sysop, The Eye Clinic 111
AAAAA xx102@ofcn.org 11
A A A C A D E M Y O N E 1111
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