[Role of toxoplasmosis in the development of central nervous system lesions in children].

Because of the high degree of infestation in women capable of bearing children in Europe (70 to 80%) with Toxoplasma gondii the authors have studied all babies admitted for clinical treatment at the institute of Paediatrics in Lublin for clinical and serological indications of a connatal toxoplasmosis. In the period between January 1977 and December 1978, 133 babies showed positive findings. The most frequently occurring findings were lesions of the central nervous system (hydrocephalus 21 X, microcephaly 8 X, porencephaly 18 X, convulsions and psychomotor retardation 11 X, subdural hygroma and haematoma 34 X, encephalomeningitis 7 X). Intracranial calcifications within the classical triad were only found in two cases. Other internal lesions without cerebral deficiency symptoms were found in 18 children. The authors point out the possible connection between vascular lesions caused by toxoplasmosis and subdural effusions. One might think of both permeability disturbances and direct vascular lacerations. The treatment consisted in repeated punctures, trepanations and antibiotics (Spiramycin, Daraprim, Orisul). The serological proof of the presence of toxoplasmosis may well lag behind the clinical symptoms.