Ocular toxoplasmosis: the influence of patient age
Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz
;
104(2): 351-357, Mar. 2009.
Article
in English
| LILACS
| ID: lil-533527
ABSTRACT
The influence of patient age on various features of ocular toxoplasmosis has been a subject of study for many years. The age at which Toxoplasma gondii infection occurs in different populations is related to socioeconomic factors and studies suggest that ocular toxoplasmosis is a more severe disease at the extremes of age. The prevalence of ocular involvement is markedly different between individuals with congenital and those with post-natally acquired infections. Even among those with post-natally acquired infections, age influences the risk and timing of ocular involvement. The severity of toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis (in terms of lesion size, location and associated inflammation) is also affected by patient age at the time of initial infection or recurrence. The risk of recurrent toxoplasmic retinochoroiditis is influenced by age at the time of initial infection and age at most recent episode of active disease. Understanding of relationships between ocular toxoplasmosis and patient age is incomplete; evidence has often been indirect and in some cases conflicting. The influence of patient age on ocular toxoplasmosis should be studied in a systematic manner to provide a better understanding of disease mechanisms and to provide clinical information that can used to establish better strategies for disease treatment and prevention.
Full text:
Available
Index:
LILACS (Americas)
Main subject:
Toxoplasmosis, Ocular
/
Chorioretinitis
Type of study:
Etiology study
/
Prevalence study
Limits:
Female
/
Humans
/
Pregnancy
Language:
English
Journal:
Mem. Inst. Oswaldo Cruz
Journal subject:
Tropical Medicine
/
Parasitology
Year:
2009
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
United States
Institution/Affiliation country:
University of California - Los Angeles/US
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