Abstract

CUTANEOUS LARVA MIGRANS – A CASE STUDY

Anson Mathew Joseph*, Muhammed Shafi K., Dr. Vishnu Das, Soorya Soman, Athira R. S and Dr. Thomas Varghese

ABSTRACT

Cutaneous Larva Migrans – also known as creeping eruption or sandworm disease – is common among travelers returning from tropical countries. It is caused by larvae of animal hookworms by incidental infestation of a human by animal nematode larvae usually thriving dogs and cats. The disease is endemic in resource-poor communities in the developing world, particularly in Brazil, India, and the West Indies. Most often, people pick up the infection by walking through contaminated areas barefoot or with open-type shoes, or by sitting in tainted soil or sand. We describe the case of a 35 year old male patient who came with a history of itching over the left lower limb. On examination a serpiginous, erythematous and slightly elevated lesion was found with oozing from the infected site. He had contact with soil from a nearby pond that was used for the construction of his house. They should be advised to wear shoes in sandy areas, to use deckchairs or mattresses on beaches and to avoid beaches where animals are present. The treatment of choice is 10% topical Thiabendazole suspension applied four times a day, for atleast 2 days after the last sign of burrow activity. Rare cases can be treated with oral Thiabendazole. Other useful drugs are Mebendazole, Albendazole and oral Ivermectin (150-200 mcg/kg as a single dose).

Keywords: Cutaneous Larva Migrans, Creeping eruption, Ancylostoma braziliense.