Severe neurological and ocular manifestations in paediatric patients with toxoplasmosis. Case-series study with review of the current literature

Toxoplasmosis, both congenital and postnatally acquired, is a parasitic disease caused by infection with the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii. The most serious manifestation of this disease is congenital toxoplasmosis, resulting from transplacental infection of the foetus during pregnancy. Retinochoroiditis, intracranial calcifications, and hydrocephalus are considered the classic triad of congenital toxoplasmosis. This article describes four cases of severe neurologic and ocular manifestations in paediatric patients diagnosed with toxoplasmosis. The main aim was to examine the nature of clinical presentation as well as to emphasise the necessity of properly administered antiparasitic therapy and underline the importance of prenatal screening to reduce the risk of congenital transmission to the foetus.