Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis is a disease caused by a parasite infection usually occurring after consuming undercooked meat from an infected animal, after exposure to cat faeces where the parasite egg is frequently found, or in mother-to-child transmission when the mother becomes infected during pregnancy. Infection often does not cause any symptoms, but may lead to swollen glands, fatigue and flu-like symptoms. Babies infected during early pregnancy are most severely affected. Newborns infected with toxoplasmosis may appear normal at birth, but, as the baby becomes older, may develop vision or hearing loss, display learning disabilities, mental retardation, or seizures. Severe cases may result in death.
Diagnosis of this condition can be difficult. A test for toxoplasmosis detects the antibodies that are produced after exposure to the parasite; however, a positive result does not distinguish between current or prior parasite infections. A positive test should be repeated every few weeks to see if the amount of antibody is increasing, which means there is a current infection. If the amount remains the same, there is no new infection. A negative test means either there is not a current infection, or the amount of antibody produced is not yet sufficient to be detected.
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