Introduction: The clinical and laboratory data of immunocompetent patients with acute toxoplasmosis (AT) are described.
Patients and methods: We performed a retrospective study of patients with AT attended between 1996 and 2004. Diagnostic criteria consisted of compatible clinical findings (generalized and cervical lymphadenopathies) and specific serology against Toxoplasma gondii (high IgG and IgM and/or reactive IgA). IgG and IgM determinations were performed by ELFA and IgA determinations by ELISA. IgM-CMV, heterophil antibodies, hemogram, hepatic chemistry were also determined and funduscopic examination was performed.
Results: Eleven immunocompetent patients with AT were evaluated. The mean age was 8.8 years (95 % CI: 3.6-12.9). The patients were evaluated between the first and the third month after symptom onset. Of the 11 patients, hard elastic lymphadenopathies were found in 10, single cervical lymphadenectomy in three and generalized lymphadenectomy in seven. One patient showed no symptoms. In one patient, nodal histology showed the Piringer-Kuchinka triad. None of the patients showed alterations in the hemogram, hepatic chemistry or funduscopic examination. The mean IgG value was 4.143 UI/ml (95 % CI: 2.570 and 5.717). IgM was reactive in nine of the 11 patients (81.8 %) and IgA in seven out of 10 patients (70 %). In all patients, at least one of these two immunoglobulins was reactive. In all patients, clinical outcome was favorable without parasiticide treatment.
Conclusion: Except for one asymptomatic patient, all the patients had generalized lymphadenopathies and only 27.2 % showed cervical lymphadenopathies. A negative IgM or IgA result does not rule out a diagnosis of AT. Parasiticide treatment is unnecessary in this entity. Acute toxoplasmosis should be considered early in children with lymphadenopathies to avoid invasive procedures.