Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Zoonotic roundworm infections.
- Journal:
- Infectious disease clinics of North America
- Year:
- 1993
- Authors:
- Glickman, L T & Magnaval, J F
- Affiliation:
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Some types of roundworms that commonly infect dogs can also infect humans, leading to serious health issues. For example, the roundworm Toxocara canis can cause problems like eye and organ damage. Recently, doctors have found that these infections can also be linked to issues like learning difficulties, seizures, asthma, stomach pain, and long-lasting allergies. Treating these infections often involves using steroids along with medications to kill the worms, which can be crucial for saving lives or preserving vision. It's important to understand how these infections happen to help prevent them and avoid more severe health problems.
Abstract
The larval stage of several animal parasites can infect humans and produce severe disease. Visceral and ocular larval migrans caused by the common dog roundworm, Toxocara canis, are two well-recognized clinical syndromes. With the wider availability of serodiagnostic tests for toxocaral infection, other syndromes characterized by neuropsychologic deficits, epilepsy, asthma, abdominal distress, and chronic allergy have been described. Treatment with corticosteroids in conjunction with anthelminthic drugs may be life- or sight-saving. Recognition of the risk factors for infection is key to prevention, reinfection, and more serious illness.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8254168/