Introduction
Toxocariasis is due to human infection with Toxocara cati (an intestinal parasite of cats) or Toxocara canis (an intestinal parasite of dogs)
-Most commonly encountered among children 1 to 6 years of age
-Transmission to humans by ingestion of eggs in soil, particularly in those with a history of pica
-Invading larvae migrate in human tissues and cannot mature to adult worms
Symptoms & Signs
A. Visceral larva migrans: it is due to disseminated systemic infection; It mostly affects the liver, lungs, heart, skeletal muscle and brain; eosinophilic granulomas surround parasite larvae
Pulmonary: Cough, wheezing, pulmonary infiltrates
Abdominal: The most commonly affected organ is the liver; hepatomegaly, splenomegaly
Heart: Myocarditis, pericarditis, cardiac arrhythmia
decreased visual acuity
B. Ocular Larva Migrans
Unilateral posterior or peripheral inflammatory eye mass, granuloma formation, blurred vision, red eye, a whitish pupil due to loss of red reflex (leukocoria), unilateral strabismus
Diagnosis
Labs: Leukocytosis with marked eosinophilia, anemia, and elevated liver function tests
Serology: ELISA, Western blot
Liver biopsy: Demonstration of larva
Treatment
-It is usually a benign and self-limited illness
-Severe disease: Albendazole, mebendazole, corticosteroids