Ocular Toxoplasmosis: Clinical Characteristics in Pediatric Patients

PURPOSE: To describe the clinical features of Ocular Toxoplasmosis in pediatric patients. METHODS: A retrospective, non-comparative series of cases was studied. We reviewed the clinical records of patients 16 year old or younger diagnosed with Ocular Toxoplasmosis. RESULTS: Forty patients (56 eyes) were included. The mean age was 9.5 yrs old. Twenty were female. Unilateral involvement was noticed in 60% of patients. The most common symptoms were strabismus (32.1%) and reduced VA in (23.2%). An inactive retinal scar was observed in most cases (71.4%). Panuveitis was found in 8 eyes (14.2%), and posterior uveitis in 7 eyes of 7 patients (12.5%); one eye presented neuroretinitis. The most frequent location of retinochoroidal lesions was the posterior pole (72.7%). CONCLUSIONS: In children, ocular toxoplasmosis is most commonly diagnosed during the inactive stage. When inflammation is present, it can be severe and frequently associated with other complications such vasculitis and papillitis.