infectious diseases
Toxocariasis
Symptoms and Signs of Toxocariasis
Visceral larva migrans (VLM) consists of fever, anorexia, hepatosplenomegaly, rash, pneumonitis, and asthmatic symptoms, depending on the affected organs. Larvae of other helminths includingBaylisascaris procyonis,Strongyloidesspecies, andParagonimusspecies can cause similar symptoms and signs when they migrate through tissue. VLM occurs mostly in 2- to 5-year-old children with a history of geophagia or in adults who ingest clay. The syndrome is self-limiting in 6 to 18 months if egg intake ceases. Deaths due to invasion of the brain or heart occur rarely. Ocular larva migrans (OLM), also called ocular toxocariasis, is usually unilateral and has no or very mild systemic manifestations. OLM lesions consist mostly of granulomatous inflammatory reactions to a larva, resulting in Overview of Uveitis and/or chorioretinitis. As a result, vision can be impaired or lost. OLM occurs in older children and less commonly in young adults. The lesion may be confused with retinoblastoma or other intraocular tumors. 