Cerebral Toxoplasmosis in a Previously Fit Individual – Pitfalls in Management – A Case Report.

Abstract

Most people with toxoplasmosis infection are asymptomatic. Cerebral toxoplasmosis in HIV patient represents poor prognostic determinant, but treatable if early treatment is initiated. A case of delayed diagnosis of cerebral toxoplasmosis is presented. A 27-year-old man presented with one-sided facial numbness and treated as Bell’s Palsy. Later he developed slurred speech. Contrast enhanced CT brain showed left frontal temporal hypodense lesion, leptomeningeal enhancement and perilesional oedema. Steroid was started. Four days later, he presented with decreased responsiveness. Retroviral was detected and diagnosis changed to opportunistic brain infection. He died after 3 days. Toxoplasmosis IgG antibodies turned out positive. In diagnosing cerebral toxoplasmosis, clinical presentation and examination are as important as laboratory testing and radiological imaging.