Ocular Toxoplasmosis: frequency and clinical characteristics in a pediatric ophthalmology clinic

Introduction: Toxoplasmosis frequently affects the posterior chamber of the eye and can cause vision loss. Objective: To describe the frequency and clinical characteristics of ocular toxoplasmosis in a pediatric ophthalmology clinic. Materials and Methods: this was an observational, descriptive and retrospective study. We reviewed the clinical histories of patients from 0 to 18 years of age, with ocular toxoplasmosis, treated in the pediatric ophthalmology clinic, from January 2011 to May 2014. Variables were age, sex, form of toxoplasmosis, ocular lesion type, lesion location, unilateral or bilateral involvement, and ocular complications. The data was analyzed with SPSSv21 using descriptive and inferential statistics. Informed consent was not necessary because it was a retrospective study. Results: 72 patients were included. The median age was 48 months; 6.9% were neonates, 52.8% were female. 80.5% had acquired toxoplasmosis and 19.4% congenital. All the patients had chorioretinitis and 7% also had uveitis. Bilateral affectation was present in 52.8%. The lesions were inactive at 87.5% with central location. Complications were present in 58.3% of patients: strabismus in 76% and 24% had retinal detachment. Conclusion: The frequency of OT was 0.8%. The majority of the patients were over 2 years of age and 19% had congenital toxoplasmosis. All had chorioretinitis, with bilateral involvement and central location present more frequently. There was a predominance of inactive lesions in both congenital and acquired toxoplasmosis. The most common complications were strabismus and retinal detachment.