Choroiditis Health Dictionary

An in?ammation of the uveal tract (see EYE). Iritis is in?ammation of the iris; cyclitis, in?ammation of the ciliary body; and choroiditis, in?ammation of the choroid. The symptoms and signs vary according to which part of the uveal tract is involved and tend to be recurrent. The patient may experience varying degrees of discomfort or pain, with or without blurring of vision. In many cases a cause is never found. Some known associations include various types of arthritis, some bowel diseases, virus illnesses, tuberculosis, syphilis, parasites and fungi. Treatment is with anti-in?ammatory drops and occasionally steroid tablets, plus drops to dilate the pupil.... uveitis

A method of diagnosing genetic abnormalities in a fetus using a small sample of tissue taken from the chorionic villi at edge of the placenta. Because the cells have the same chromosome makeup as those in the fetus, they can be used to detect genetic abnormalities. Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) is usually performed in the first 3 months of pregnancy in women who are at a higher-than-normal risk of having a child with a chromosomal disorder, such as Down’s syndrome, or a genetic disease, such as thalassaemia. Chromosome analysis of the villi cells takes place in the laboratory. CVS slightly increases the risk of miscarriage. choroid A layer of tissue at the back of the eye, behind the retina. The choroid contains many blood vessels that supply nutrients and oxygen to the retinal cells and to surrounding tissues in the eye. choroiditis Inflammation of the choroid. It is often caused by infections such as toxocariasis or toxoplasmosis, more rarely by sarcoidosis, syphilis, and histoplasmosis. It sometimes has no obvious cause. Treatment includes corticosteroid drugs for the inflammation, and antibiotic drugs for any causative infection.... chorionic villus sampling

An infection caused by the protozoan TOXOPLASMA GONDII that is often caused by eating undercooked meat from infected animals, or by handling faeces from infected cats. In most cases there are no symptoms, but sometimes there may be a feverish illness that resembles infectious mononucleosis. Retinitis (inflammation of the retina) and choroiditis may also develop. In people with an immunodeficiency disorder toxoplasmosis may cause lung and heart damage and severe encephalitis.

Toxoplasmosis contracted by a pregnant woman is transmitted to the fetus in about a third of cases. It may result in miscarriage or stillbirth, or the infant may have an enlarged liver and spleen, blindness, hydrocephalus, learning difficulties, or may die during infancy. Infection in late pregnancy usually has no ill effects.

The diagnosis is made from blood tests. Treatment (with pyrimethamine and a sulphonamide drug) is necessary only in pregnant women, in children with severe symptoms, in people with an immune system deficiency, and in cases of retinitis or choroiditis.... toxoplasmosis