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Skin manifestations associated with toxocariasis: a case-control study
P Humbert1, M Niezborala, R Salembier
1Department of Dermatology, University Hospital, Besançon, France. philippe.humbert@univ-fcomte.fr
Dermatology (Basel, Switzerland)
|November 30, 2000
Summary
Patients with urticaria or prurigo show an increased risk of Toxocara infection. Testing for this common zoonotic helminthiasis is recommended for these skin conditions.
Area of Science:
- * Infectious Diseases
- * Dermatology
- * Parasitology
Background:
- * Human toxocariasis is a prevalent zoonotic helminthiasis.
- * Advanced diagnostic tests reveal a broad range of clinical manifestations, including cutaneous diseases, linked to Toxocara infection.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To evaluate the association between positive Toxocara enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test results and various cutaneous symptoms.
- * To determine the risk of Toxocara infection in patients presenting with different dermatological conditions.
Main Methods:
- * A prospective case-control study was conducted involving 653 patients with diverse skin conditions.
- * Toxocariasis diagnosis was confirmed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).
- * A control group of 249 patients was included for comparison.
Main Results:
- * A statistically significant excess risk of positive Toxocara ELISA results was observed in patients with urticaria (134 cases) and prurigo (22 cases).
- * No significant excess risk was found for patients with atopic dermatitis, pruritus, or non-atopic eczema.
- * Adjusted odds ratios indicated a heightened risk for urticaria and prurigo.
Conclusions:
- * Patients diagnosed with urticaria or prurigo should be considered for Toxocara infection testing.
- * Further research is necessary to establish the efficacy of anthelminthic drug treatment for these patients.