Eosinophilic meningoencephalitis due to Toxocara canis: case report and review of the literature.
Toxocariasis is usually manifested as visceral larva migrans. Nervous system involvement is a rare complication. In this report, we describe one case of meningoencephalitis due to Toxocara canis and review the literature. We report a previously healthy two-year-old boy who was admitted after 24 hours of severe neurologic symptoms with marked eosinophilic pleocytosis in the cerebrospinal fluid and a single subcortical lesion detected by cerebral magnetic resonance imaging. Both serum and spinal fluid tested positive for T. canis. Initial treatment with thiabendazole was ineffective. After marked improvement in clinical and laboratory results were achieved using albendazole and corticosteroids, the child was discharged.
Vidal
Jose E
JE
Unidade de Terapia Intensiva do Instituto de Infectologia Emílio Ribas, São Paulo, Brazil. jbermudez@emilioribas.sp.gov.br
Sztajnbok
Jaques
J
Seguro
Antonio Carlos
AC
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015766:Albendazole / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008590:Meningoencephalitis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D017166:Toxocara canis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014120:Toxocariasis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D000871:Anthelmintics; D015766:Albendazole