gnathomiasis

Gnathostomiasis, also known as larva migrans profundus, is the human infection caused by any of six species of nematodes in the genus Gnathostoma, which infect vertebrates as second intermediate and primary hosts.

==Signs and symptoms== A few days after ingestion epigastric pain, fever, vomiting, and loss of appetite resulting from the migration of larvae through the intestinal wall to the abdominal cavity will appear in the patient. Migration of parasites in the subcutaneous tissues causing intermittent, migratory, painful, pruritic swellings is known as cutaneous larva migrans. Patches of edema appear after initial symptoms clear and are usually found on the abdomen. These lesions vary in size and can be accompanied by pruritus, rash, and stabbing pain. Swellings may last 1 to 4 weeks in a given area and reappear in a different location. Migration to other tissues causes visceral larva migrans and can result in cough, hematuria, ocular involvement, meningitis, encephalitis and eosinophilia. Eosinophilic myeloencephalitis may also result from invasion of the central nervous system by the larvae.