Toxoplasmosis in Blind and Partially Sighted Children and Adolescents

Abstract

Infection caused by the protozoan organism Toxoplasma gondii is a worldwide problem. We have shown that in Norway this infection is especially common in blind and partially sighted children. When a group of infected and another group of noninfected children were given WISC and WAIS verbal subtests, the infected group showed lower performance than the noninfected. Retesting after five years showed a progressive intellectual impairment in subjects with a congenital sight deficiency and infection with Toxoplasma gondii. The need for a closer follow-up in congenitally blind or partially sighted children is underlined.