A case of toxoplasmic encephalitis in a patient on cancer chemotherapy in Uganda

Background: Reactivation of central nervous system (CNS) toxoplasmosis can be caused by immunosuppression (ISS) of any kind. However, anti-cancer chemotherapy combined with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) induced ISS results in an atypical presentation that is fatal. Case presentation: A 46 years old man with a well-controlled infection of the human immunodeficiency virus presented with generalized tonic-clonic seizures following the second dose of anti-cancer chemotherapy for esophageal cancer. His brain's computerized tomography (CT) scan showed enlarged ventricles with no space-occupying lesions. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) smears stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) revealed numerous bradyzoites and tachyzoites consistent with central nervous system toxoplasmosis. Conclusion: With a double burden of cancer and Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in low-income countries, this case raises awareness about the atypical presentation of CNS toxoplasmosis reactivation among patients on cancer chemotherapy.

Citation

Mitala Y, Atwine R, Birungi A, Jacinta A, Baluku K, Sekitene S, et al. A case of toxoplasmic encephalitis in a patient on cancer chemotherapy in Uganda. Afri Health Sci. 2024; 24(4). 106-110. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v24i4.14

URI

https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v24i4.14
https://nru.uncst.go.ug/handle/123456789/11368

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Medical and Health Sciences

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