Toxoplasmosis is a parasite, which is almost universal, in cats; and can be transmitted to people, particularly the very young and those with immune dysfunction. Some mental illnesses have been tied to toxoplasmosis, particularly those involving reckless behavior and explosive anger. Pregnant women are warned to avoid litter boxes during pregnancy, because toxoplasmosis can cross the placenta and invade the fetal brain, to cause epilepsy, regressive developmental disorders, and microcephaly. Toxoplasmosis can have different manifestations in different patients, based on the point in time the infection was acquired (in utero, infancy, childhood, adult), the location of the toxoplasmosis in the brain, co-infections, duration of infection, and the total infectious burden.
The differential diagnosis in childhood epilepsy syndromes is based on the nature and frequency of the seizures, and may be dependent on the specialty and experience of the examiner. Childhood epilepsy syndromes have been named benign Rolandic epilepsy, juvenile myoclonic epilepsy, infantile spasms or West syndrome, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, and Dravet syndrome or Severe Myoclonic Epilepsy of Infancy. Some epilepsy syndromes are considered “idiopathic”, meaning the epilepsy does not fit within accepted categories.
The symptoms of childhood epilepsy, regressive developmental disorders, and congenital toxoplasmosis are similar and overlap. In childhood epilepsy, a history of contact with cats and testing for immortal pathogens, in the mother and child, particularly toxoplasmosis and chlamydia, should be done to aid understanding, and determine when treatment may benefit the patient.
