[Clinical course and treatment of toxocariasis in children]

Toxocariasis is a parasitic disease. Larvae of Toxocara canis, as intra-tissular parasites, can survive in human organism for 10 years. Clinical symptoms depend on massiveness of infection, organ localisation and defensive reactions of patients. 74 children were observed (in age from 1 year 8 months to 15 years). 70% of them had intraocular lesions which is the most serious complication of toxocariasis. Larva of T. canis is neurotropic. EEG revealed abnormalities in 73% of patients. The diagnosis of toxocariasis was confirmed by immunoenzymatic reaction ELISA with T. canis antigen. The patients were treated with hetrazan, if intraocular lesions were present prednisone was added. Improvement was achieved in 78% of children with intraocular lesions, in the rest effectiveness of the treatment is questionable.