Cerebral toxocariasis: a possible cause of epileptic seizure in children.
BACKGROUND
Toxocariasis is a worldwide human helminthiasis, which is mostly asymptomatic and caused by toxocara canis, a roundworm in dogs. These can cause visceral larva migrans syndrome in humans who ingest contaminated soil. CNS manifestation with a focal mass lesion is very rare, seizures often being the first symptom.


METHODS
We describe an 11-year-old girl presenting with a generalized epileptic seizure and eosinophilia in blood. Under antibiotic therapy under the assumption of toxoplasmosis the lesion did not decrease and surgical resection was considered. We used computer-assisted surgery (CAS) for careful tissue resection. Postoperatively the diagnosis of toxocariasis was confirmed and albendozole medication was administered for 7 days. The patient developed well without neurological deficits or seizures.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that although neurological involvement is rare in toxocariasis, a cerebral infection in a child with epileptic seizures and eosinophilia should be considered.
Bächli
Heidi
H
Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Basel, Spitalstrasse 21, 4031 Basel, Switzerland. hbaechli@uhbs.ch
Minet
Jean Claude
JC
Gratzl
Otmar
O
D000818:Animals; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000209:etiology / Q000469:parasitology / Q000601:surgery; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007816:Larva Migrans, Visceral; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D012196:Review Literature as Topic; D017166:Toxocara canis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014120:Toxocariasis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000601:surgery