TITLE:
Neuropsychological Profile of Treated Children with Congenital Toxoplasmosis
AUTHORS:
Kimberly A. Kerns, Sandra J. Mish, Jillian Roberts, Frank Jagdis
KEYWORDS:
Toxoplasmosis, Congenital Infection, Neuropsychological Effects, Neurocognitive Outcome, Child
JOURNAL NAME:
Psychology,
Vol.5 No.9,
July
22,
2014
ABSTRACT: Background: Very little is known about the long-term
neuropsychological outcomes of infants who were treated with pyrimethamine and
sulfadiazine for congenital Toxoplasma infection.
This study investigated the neurocognitive functioning and behavior of a cohort
of treated infants exposed to Toxoplasma
gondii in the 1994-1995 outbreak in Victoria, British Columbia. Methods: Ten infants from the original
cohort, treated with pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine starting during first year
of life and continuing for 12 months, were evaluated at 7 to 8.5 years of age.
Neuropsychological evaluations focused on the cognitive, academic, adaptive,
and behavioral functioning of these children. Results: The cohort demonstrated generally average neurocognitive
abilities and academic achievement. According to parental ratings, the
children’s executive functions, behavior and adaptive functioning did not
differ significantly from the normative population. However, subtle
difficulties were seen on more demanding sustained attention and impulse
control tasks. Conclusions: These
results suggest favorable outcomes in infants who were treated for one year
with pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine. Nonetheless, congenital toxoplasmosis
might contribute to some difficulties with higher-order cognitive abilities or
tasks demanding greater self-monitoring. These difficulties could become more
pronounced as higher demands for these abilities and brain areas come online
during late childhood and adolescence. These findings highlight the importance
of effective treatment and longitudinal follow-up of children with congenital
toxoplasmosis.