Infection of the Immunologically Normal Older Child or Adult
Often the infection goes unrecognized. Signs include enlarged lymph glands, fever, or, in rare cases, damage to the eye, brain, or other vital organs. Active infection is treated when there is damage to the vital organs. Further information is available on the Resources and Publications pages.
Infection of the Pregnant Woman
Diagnosis, prevention of transmission, and treatment of the fetus in utero are very important. When a pregnant woman acquires the infection for the first time early in pregnancy, transmission to her fetus is uncommon; but when the parasite is transmitted at this time, the fetus often has substantial clinical disease. As pregnancy progresses, the likelihood of transmission increases and the severity of the disease at birth diminishes. Nonetheless, even if the infection is acquired by the mother very late in gestation and the baby appears normal, without detailed evaluation at birth, sequelae occurs later almost uniformly unless the baby is treated. Treatment in utero can reduce transmission and manifestation of the illness. Treatment during infancy can treat the disease and reduce sequeleace. Acquisition of the parasite before pregnancy does not usually result in transmission if the mother is immunologically normal. If a chronically infected mother is immunocompromised, transmission can occur. Further information is available on the Resources and Publications pages.
Infection of the Fetus or Newborn Infant
This may be subclinical, involve the brain and eye or any organ. Infection may be evident at birth or later in life. Infection in the fetus and infant (to one year of age) should always be treated with antimicrobial agents. Active infection later in life should be treated. Further information is available on the Resources and Publications pages.
Infection of the Eye
Eye disease occurs as a sequel of infection acquired in utero. It rarely occurs during acute infection of older children and adults. It also occurs in immunocompromised individuals. Active retinochoroditis is treated with antimicrobial agents. Further information is available on the Resources and Publications pages.
Infection of the Immunocompromised Individual
Infection in immunocompromised individuals may affect the brain, eye, or any organ and may be rapidly fatal for patients with transplantation (solid organ or bone marrow), cancer and its therapy, auto immune disease and its therapy, and AIDS. Treatment arrests disease. Further information is available on the Resources and Publications pages.