title: [Ocular toxocariasis in a boy with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome - a case report].
abstract: Toxocariasis is a common zoonosis caused by infection with Toxocara canis or cati larvae. Ocular toxocariasis is one of the forms of infestation found in 1/1,000 - 1/10,000 children. Children with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome (INS) are at high risk of infections, also parasitic infestations, which can, in turn, cause relapses of the disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present a case of a 6-year-old boy with steroiddependent nephrotic syndrome. The disease started at age of 2, the boy had 9 relapses of INS, and was treated with oral prednisone, levamisole, and cyclophosphamide. During hospitalization with Xth relapse of INS, he was screened for causes of recurrences and IgG antibodies against Toxocara were found. Fundoscopy revealed white, slightly elevated, and discoloured inflammatory lesions in right retina without inflammation in the vitreous. Ocular toxocariasis was diagnosed. The boy was treated for 7 days with albendazole in the dose of 15 mg/kg/24 h with simultaneous increase of the dose of prednisone to 1mg/kg/24 h. In control fundoscopic examinations there was no progression of ocular lesions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In children on immunosuppressive treatment with possible exposure to animals or raw meet it is advisable to take serological tests for Toxocara infestation also in the absence of clinical symptoms of parasitic infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Nephrology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Antonowicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Nephrology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Skrzypczyk
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Children's Memorial Health Institute of Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kępa
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Nephrology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pańczyk-Tomaszewska
mesh_terms: D015766:Albendazole / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000469:parasitology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014120:Toxocariasis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D015766:Albendazole; D011241:Prednisone
keywords: children; idiopathic nephrotic syndrome; ocular toxocariasis; parasitic diseases