Cerebral Toxoplasmosis in HIV/ Aids Patient- A Case Report

Abstract

Toxoplasmosis is caused by T. gondii infection in patients with AIDS accounting for 50 70% of all mass lesion in this population & is an important cause of focal lesion in this group. As HIV infection is becoming more prevalent, CNS complications of HIV are being encountered more and more in routine clinical practice. Toxoplasmosis associated with HIV infection is mainly caused by reactivation of a chronic infection and manifests as toxoplasmic encephalitis. Typically, toxoplasmic encephalitis has a subacute onset with focal neurological abnormalities characteristically accompanied by headache, altered mental status and fever. Rarely it can present as a rapidly fatal form of diffuse encephalitis. Extracerebral toxoplasmosis can also occur. The most commonly used serological tests detect the presence of anti T. gondii IgG and IgM antibodies. Neuroimaging modalities especially computed tomography (CT) and Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are also indispensable. The patient was started on Tab. Pyrimethamine 100mg daily and Sulphadiazine 1gm 6 hourly for 4 weeks with marked improvement at the end of 4 weeks.

Bangladesh J Medicine Jul 2014; 25 (2) : 76-77