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Larva migrans: a case report and review
Paulo Eduardo Neves Ferreira Velho1, Andreia Vasconcellos Faria, Maria Letícia Cintra
1Department of Internal Medicine, Faculdade de Ci ncias M dicas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, SP, Brazil. pvelho@fcm.unicamp.br
Revista Do Instituto De Medicina Tropical De Sao Paulo
|July 19, 2003
Summary
A rare, severe case of Ancylostoma hookworm larval infestation occurred in a patient on systemic corticosteroids. This highlights the potential for severe parasitic infections when immune responses are suppressed.
Area of Science:
- Parasitology
- Immunology
- Clinical Medicine
Background:
- Systemic corticosteroid therapy can suppress immune responses.
- Ancylostoma species are hookworms that cause cutaneous larva migrans and visceral larva migrans.
- Exuberant parasitic infections can occur in immunocompromised individuals.
Observation:
- A patient receiving systemic corticosteroids presented with a massive Ancylostoma sp. larval infestation.
- The clinical manifestation was unusually severe and rare.
Findings:
- Corticosteroid use may predispose individuals to severe, atypical presentations of Ancylostoma larval infestation.
- The case underscores the importance of considering parasitic infections in immunocompromised patients with unusual symptoms.
Implications:
- Clinicians should be aware of the potential for severe parasitic infections in patients on immunosuppressive therapy.
- Further research into the immunomodulatory effects of corticosteroids on parasitic infections is warranted.
- Prompt diagnosis and treatment are crucial for managing severe hookworm larval infestations.