title: Neural larva migrans caused by the raccoon roundworm Baylisascaris procyonis.
abstract: Baylisascaris procyonis, the common raccoon roundworm, is a rare cause of devastating or fatal neural larva migrans in infants and young children. We describe the clinical features of two children from suburban Chicago who developed severe, nonfatal B. procyonis neural larva migrans. Despite treatment with albendazole and high dose corticosteroids, both patients are neurologically devastated. In many regions of North America, large populations of raccoons with high rates of endemic B. procyonis infection live in proximity to humans, which suggests that the risk of human infection is probably substantial. In the absence of effective treatment, prevention of infection remains the most important public health strategy.
authors.affiliation: Children's Memorial Hospital and Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL 60614, USA. pgavin@childrensmemorial.org
authors.forename: Patrick J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Gavin
authors.forename: Kevin R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Kazacos
authors.forename: Tina Q
authors.initials: TQ
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: William B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Brinkman
authors.forename: Sharon E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Byrd
authors.forename: A Todd
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Marilyn B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Mets
authors.forename: Stanford T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Shulman
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015766:Albendazole / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D002641:Chicago; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007815:Larva Migrans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008590:Meningoencephalitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D009349:Nematode Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011821:Raccoons; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D015766:Albendazole