Cryptosporidiosis I. What every physician needs to know. Cryptosporidiosis is caused by an intracellular protozoan parasite, provoking illness in a wide host range with variable severity and affecting both immunocompetent and immunocompromised hosts, the latter are predisposed to a potentially life-threatening disease and higher risk of extra-intestinal complications. Cryptosporidium genus has at least 20 recognized…
Cerebral toxoplasmosis I. What every physician needs to know. Toxoplasmosis is caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. Despite infecting a large proportion of the world’s human populations, it is an uncommon cause of disease. In the majority of immunocompetent individuals, primary or chronic (latent) infections are asymptomatic, however certain populations are at higher risk…
Spinal shock I. What every physician needs to know. Spinal shock refers to a clinical syndrome characterized by the loss of reflex, motor and sensory function below the level of a spinal cord injury (SCI). In some instances (possibly when lesion is T6 or higher), this syndrome is associated with loss of autonomic tone leading…
