Skin manifestations associated with toxocariasis: a case-control study.
BACKGROUND
Human toxocariasis is one of the most common zoonotic helminthiases. The recent development of sensitive and specific diagnostic laboratory tests has led to identify a large spectrum of diseases, including cutaneous diseases, induced by Toxocara infection.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of our study was to assess the risk of having a positive Toxocara ELISA test in patients with different cutaneous symptoms.


METHODS
The diagnosis of toxocariasis was based on an ELISA test which was performed in 653 patients suffering from different skin conditions during a prospective case-control study.


RESULTS
The excess of risk (adjusted odds ratio) of having a positive result in the Toxocara ELISA was statistically significant for 134 patients with urticaria (whatever the clinical presentation) and for 22 patients with prurigo compared to a control group (249 patients). No statistical excess of risk was observed for patients with atopic dermatitis, pruritus or non-atopic eczema.


CONCLUSIONS
The authors conclude that patients suffering from urticaria or prurigo should be tested for Toxocara infection. Whether these patients should be treated with anthelminthic drugs remains to be determined in further studies.
Humbert
P
P
Department of Dermatology, University Hospital, Besançon, France. philippe.humbert@univ-fcomte.fr
Niezborala
M
M
Salembier
R
R
Aubin
F
F
Piarroux
R
R
Buchet
S
S
Barale
T
T
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D000909:Antibodies, Helminth / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D017166:Toxocara canis / Q000276:immunology; D014120:Toxocariasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000469:parasitology
D000909:Antibodies, Helminth