Ocular toxoplasmosis: clinical characteristics in pediatric patients

Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 2012 Apr;20(2):130-8. doi: 10.3109/09273948.2012.656878.

Abstract

Purpose: To describe the clinical features of Ocular Toxoplasmosis in pediatric patients.

Methods: A retrospective, non-comparative series of cases was studied. We reviewed the clinical records of patients 16 year old or younger diagnosed with Ocular Toxoplasmosis.

Results: Forty patients (56 eyes) were included. The mean age was 9.5 yrs old. Twenty were female. Unilateral involvement was noticed in 60% of patients. The most common symptoms were strabismus (32.1%) and reduced VA in (23.2%). An inactive retinal scar was observed in most cases (71.4%). Panuveitis was found in 8 eyes (14.2%), and posterior uveitis in 7 eyes of 7 patients (12.5%); one eye presented neuroretinitis. The most frequent location of retinochoroidal lesions was the posterior pole (72.7%).

Conclusions: In children, ocular toxoplasmosis is most commonly diagnosed during the inactive stage. When inflammation is present, it can be severe and frequently associated with other complications such vasculitis and papillitis.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Papilledema / diagnosis
  • Papilledema / microbiology
  • Prevalence
  • Retinitis / diagnosis
  • Retinitis / epidemiology
  • Retinitis / microbiology
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Strabismus / diagnosis
  • Strabismus / microbiology
  • Toxoplasmosis, Ocular / complications
  • Toxoplasmosis, Ocular / diagnosis*
  • Toxoplasmosis, Ocular / epidemiology
  • Uveitis / diagnosis*
  • Uveitis / epidemiology
  • Uveitis / microbiology
  • Visual Acuity