Toxocariasis | Medtick
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Toxocariasis

What is it?

Parasite infection spread via infected cats, dog and fox faeces/stools to human via infected soil entering human mouth.

  • It is not spread directly from animal.

There are three types of this condition:

  • Covert toxocariasis
    • Mild form
    • Symptoms: abdominal pain, headache, cough, weakness. itching.
  • Ocular larva migrans
    • Larvae migrate to the eye
    • Symptoms: blurred vision, eye pain, redness, retinal damage, vision loss
  • Visceral larva migrans
    • Most common severe form
    • Larvae migrate to organs like liver, lungs, heart
    • Symptoms: fever, cough, abdominal pain, enlarged liver, eosinophili (high levels of eosinophil white blood cells) causing symptoms below.

Diagnosis tests

  • Complete Blood Count (CBC): Test for eosinophili (high levels of eosinophil white blood cells) causing symptoms below.
  • Eye examination
  • Serology tests: ELISA for Toxocara antibodies (IgG)
  • Serum IgE level
  • Ultrasound/CT/ MRI for liver, lungs, brain lesions
  • Western blot / confirmatory serology
Handwashing is essential and to stop humans to put hands in mouth after touching contaminated soils, wash fruits/vegetables deworm pets to prevent this condition especially when exposed to contaminated soils, cats, dogs and fox faeces

Cause

  • Parasite: Toxocara canis, Toxocara cati

 

  • Living in contaminated soil
  • Contact with contaminated dog/cat environments
  • Faeces from cats and dogs and fox via soil i.e. gardening
  • Poor hand hygiene
  • Unwashed vegetable

Symptoms

Covert toxocariasis:

  • Headache which is on and off or a constant headache longer than 24 hours?
  • Abdominal pain and/or are constant violently vomiting or vomiting longer than two days?
  • Dry cough longer than three weeks or breathing difficulties?
  • Difficulty sleeping?
  • Swollen lymph glands and/or reoccurring mouth ulcers?
  • Irritated?

Ocular larva migrans (when spreads to eye):

  • Blurred or cloudy vision, usually only affecting one eye?
  • Very red and painful eye?

Visceral Larva Migrans (when spreads to other parts of body):

  • High temperature greater than 38°C (100°F) or over and/or chills and sweats longer than 72 hours?
  • Abdominal pain and/or are constant violently vomiting or vomiting longer than two days (one day if a child)?
  • General discomfort (muscle weakness), uneasiness or ill feeling (malaise) and/or fatigue (tiredness)?
  • Unexplained weight loss?
  • Dry cough longer than three weeks or breathing difficulties?
  • Headache which is on and off or a constant headache longer than 24 hours?
  • A new rash that has appeared or existing rash getting worst?
  • Rapid heartbeat, swollen ankles and/or fingers?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

Medical Emergency Condition

And/or do not wait, phone for an ambulance if  have or develop:

  • Cerebral toxocariasis (if condition reaches to brain):
    • Headaches
    • Confusion
    • Poor co-ordination
    • Seizures (fits)
    • High temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or over
    • Slurred speech
    • Encephalitis
    • Hydrocephalus (fluid in the brain)
    • Brain damage
    • Epilepsy
    • Hearing loss
  • Ocular toxocariasis:
    • Blurred vision
    • Floaters (small shapes floating in your field of vision)
    • Reduced vision or loss of vision
  • Learning disabilities
  • Liver disease
  • Enlarged Spleen
  • Cerebral palsy
  • If get into lungs:
    • Breathing difficulties
    • Wheezing
    • Shortness of breath
    • Heart palpitations

Pregnancy

If one is pregnant or planning to be pregnant it can lead to:

  • Congenital toxocariasis (unborn child having the condition)
  • Hydrocephalus (fluid on the baby’s brain)
  • Brain damage
  • Epilepsy
  • Hearing loss
  • Ocular toxocariasis
    • Blurred vision
    • Floaters (small shapes floating in your field of vision)
    • Reduced vision or loss of vision
  • learning disabilities
  • Liver disease
  • Enlarged Spleen
  • Cerebral palsy

This condition may show similar symptoms to:

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice

Detailed Information

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