toxocariasis
Sign in to saveToxocariasis is an illness of humans caused by the dog roundworm (Toxocara canis) and, less frequently, the cat roundworm (Toxocara cati). These are the most common intestinal roundworms of dogs, coyotes, wolves and foxes and domestic cats, respectively. Humans are among the many "accidental" or paratenic hosts of these roundworms.
Key facts
- Medical condition (new).name
- Toxocariasis
- Medical condition (new).field
- parasitology, infectious disease
- Medical condition (new).symptoms
- fever, enlarged lymph nodes, cough, bronchospasm, wheezing, abdominal pain, headaches, shortness of breath, visual impairment
- Medical condition (new).complications
- respiratory failure, meningitis, encephalitis, epileptic seizures, myocarditis, blindness
- Medical condition (new).causes
- dog roundworm (Toxocara canis), cat roundworm (Toxocara cati)
- Medical condition (new).diagnosis
- serologic testing (serum total IgE, ELISA to detect specific anti-Toxocara IgE)
- Medical condition (new).differential
- Baylisascaris procyonis, filariasis
- Medical condition (new).prevention
- control of parasites in domestic dogs and cats, proper disposal of pet feces, proper handling of food, hand hygiene
- Medical condition (new).treatment
- anthelmintic medications
- Medical condition (new).medication
- albendazole, diethylcarbamazine
via Wikipedia infobox
Research
3,274 papersvia PubMed
Article
20 sectionsContents
- Signs and symptoms
- Covert toxocariasis
- Visceral larva migrans
- Ocular larva migrans
- Other
- Cause
- Transmission
- Incubation period
- Reservoir
- Morphology
- Life cycle
- Diagnosis
- Prevention
- Treatment
- Epidemiology
- History
- Other animals
- Cats
- References
- External links
Toxocariasis is an illness of humans caused by the dog roundworm (Toxocara canis) and, less frequently, the cat roundworm (Toxocara cati). These are the most common intestinal roundworms of dogs, coyotes, wolves and foxes and domestic cats, respectively. Humans are among the many "accidental" or paratenic hosts of these roundworms.
While this zoonotic infection is usually asymptomatic, it may cause severe disease. There are three distinct syndromes of toxocariasis: covert toxocariasis is a relatively mild illness very similar to Löffler's syndrome. It is characterized by fever, eosinophilia, urticaria, enlarged lymph nodes, cough, bronchospasm, wheezing, abdominal pain, headaches, and/or hepatosplenomegaly. Visceral larva migrans (VLM) is a more severe form of the disease; signs and symptoms depend on the specific organ system(s) involved. Lung involvement may manifest as shortness of breath, interstitial lung disease, pleural effusion, and even respiratory failure. Brain involvement may manifest as meningitis, encephalitis, or epileptic seizures. Cardiac involvement may manifest as myocarditis. Ocular larva migrans (OLM) is the third syndrome, manifesting as uveitis, endophthalmitis, visual impairment or even blindness in the affected eye.