Cutaneous larva migrans, sacroileitis, and optic neuritis caused by an unidentified organism acquired in Thailand.
We report the case of a 32-year-old pregnant woman with an unidentified intraocular parasite. The parasite, which had been acquired in Thailand, caused cutaneous larva migrans, sacroileitis, and 2 years later optic neuritis and panuveitis. The patient was successfully treated with ivermectin and albendazole. The diagnostic possibilities of this peculiar presentation are discussed. Parasitic infections are a leading cause of medical problems in travelers to tropical countries.1 While most parasites cause gastrointestinal problems, some may migrate throughout the body and lodge in critical organs. Ocular parasitic infections may occur by direct inoculation onto the eye,2 or incidentally during systemic migration. Subconjunctival parasites are easily diagnosed by removal and careful microscopic examination.3 Parasites, which lodge within the eye, are more difficult to diagnose, especially if not removed. In this report we describe a patient who presented with an intraocular parasite causing optic neuritis and panuveitis, 2 years after travel to Thailand.
Potasman
I
I
Infectious Diseases Unit, and Ophthalmology Department, Bnai Zion Medical Center, the Rappaport School of Medicine, Technion, Haifa, Israel.
Feiner
M
M
Arad
E
E
Friedman
Z
Z
D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007079:Ileitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology*; D007815:Larva Migrans / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology*; D009902:Optic Neuritis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013785:Thailand