Toxoplasmosis

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Definition Symptoms Causes Risk factors When to seek medical advice

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Definition

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic infection that may cause flu-like symptoms. The organism that causes toxoplasmosis — Toxoplasma gondii — is one of the world's most common parasites. In the United States alone, an estimated more than 60 million people have toxoplasmosis.

Most people affected never develop signs and symptoms. But for infants born to infected mothers and for people with compromised immune systems, toxoplasmosis can cause extremely serious complications.

If you're generally healthy, you probably won't need any treatment for toxoplasmosis. If you're pregnant or have lowered immunity, certain medications can help reduce the infection's severity. The best approach, though, is prevention.

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Symptoms