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Acute transient myositis due to Toxocara
S S Walsh1, W J Robson, C A Hart
1Accident and Emergency Department, Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital (Alder Hey).
Archives of Disease in Childhood
|September 1, 1988
Summary
Acute myositis in children can be caused by Toxocara infection. Prompt diagnosis and identification of antibodies led to rapid symptom resolution without specific treatment.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric infectious diseases
- Rheumatology
- Parasitology
Background:
- Acute myositis is an inflammation of muscle tissue.
- Idiopathic myositis presents diagnostic challenges in pediatric cases.
- Toxocara infection is a zoonotic parasitic disease with varied clinical manifestations.
Observation:
- Two pediatric patients presented with sudden, localized swelling in the lower left leg.
- The swelling was diagnosed as acute myositis of unknown origin.
- Initial clinical presentation mimicked other inflammatory or infectious conditions.
Findings:
- Serological testing revealed the presence of antibodies against Toxocara.
- This finding indicated a parasitic etiology for the myositis.
- Symptoms completely resolved within 72 hours of presentation.
Implications:
- Toxocara serology should be considered in pediatric cases of unexplained acute myositis.
- Early diagnosis of toxocariasis can lead to favorable outcomes.
- This case highlights the diverse clinical spectrum of Toxocara infections in children.