title: A longitudinal study on cutaneous larva migrans in an impoverished Brazilian township.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study was to describe the clinical pathology and seasonal variation of cutaneous larva migrans (CLM) in an impoverished community.
  
  
  METHODS
  A representative sample of the population of a poor urban neighbourhood in Fortaleza, northeast Brazil, was examined for CLM four times during a period of eleven months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 4107 individuals were examined. Sixty-three individuals were diagnosed to have CLM with a total of 132 larval tracks. The prevalence varied from 3.1% (95% CI: 2.2-4.3) in the middle of the rainy season to 0.2% (95% CI: 0.0-0.9) in the peak of the dry season. This corresponds to an incidence of 1841 cases of CLM per 10,000 inhabitants per year. The male sex was significantly more often affected (P<0.01). Eighty-three percent of the lesions were located at the trunk, legs or feet. Moderate or severe itching was present in all patients; 31.2% complained of insomnia due to itching, and 21% of the lesions were superinfected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CLM is a common parasitic skin disease in this deprived community, it is associated with significant morbidity, and its occurrence varies according to the rainfall.
authors.affiliation: Mandacaru Foundation, Rua José Vilar de Andrade 257, Fortaleza, CE 60833-830, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heukelbach
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wilcke
authors.forename: Ariane
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meier
authors.forename: Rômulo César
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Sabóia Moura
authors.forename: Hermann
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Feldmeier