Congenital toxoplasmosis treatment

D. Serranti, D. Buonsenso, P. Valentini

Department of Pediatrics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome (Italy)

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• Pediatrics

Objectives: Congenital toxoplasmosis is a particular manifestation of Toxoplasma gondii infection, which may present as a mild or severe neonatal disease. This pathology remains a difficult challenge in terms of therapy for the pediatrician and gynecologist. In this article we have set ourselves the objective to provide an overview of the main aspects of the disease, with particular attention to the treatment, based on the information in the literature.

Results: Two kinds of treatment are currently available: prenatal and postnatal. When pregnant women seroconvert, spiramycin is administered in order to prevent the mother-to-child transmission. When the fetal infection is confirmed the association of pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine is prescribed. After birth the specific therapy is based on the administration of pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine. However, to date, there is not strong evidence on the effectiveness of treatment, whether prenatal or postnatal.

Conclusions: The studies undertaken so far have not given satisfactory answers. Double-blind randomized controlled trials would be required, but for obvious ethical reasons they cannot be achieved.

Corresponding Author: Piero Valentini, MD; e-mail: pvalentini@rm.unicatt.it