Here are some fun facts about Ocular Toxoplasmosis and HIV!
Ocular toxoplasmosis usually causes a retinal lesion with inflammation, giving the classical "headlight in the fog" appearance.
Headlight is the lesion and the fog is due to the inflammation (WBCs).
HIV being an immunodeficient condition, there are lesser number of WBCs and hence there's no fog - Just the headlight.
The drug of choice for treatment of ocular toxoplasmosis is pyrimethamine.
However, it is contraindicated in pregnancy and HIV due to the risk of megaloblastic anemia and neural tube defects, respectively.
In pregnancy, spiramycin is preferred.
In HIV, the preferred drugs are clindamycin, azithromycin or quinolones.
- Written by Dr²