pica and Eosinophilia

The authors selected among 5 diagnosed cases of larva migrans. In this study, the authors reported a review of this disease.

Topics: Aged; Child, Preschool; Eosinophilia; Humans; Larva Migrans, Visceral; Pica; Syndrome; Thiabendazole

Eosinophilic esophagitis has been reported as a complication of oral immunotherapy (OIT), but there are only a few reports of eosinophilic gastroenteritis (EGE) occurring after OIT. EGE causes eosinophil infiltration into the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and is characterized by various digestive symptoms. We report the case of a 6-year-old boy with EGE. He was diagnosed as having immediate-type food allergies (egg, milk and wheat) by oral food challenges at 1 year of age. OIT for each food was carried out, and the amounts of the offending foods were able to be gradually increased without causing any immediate-type allergy symptoms. However, the total IgE and specific IgE values were remarkably increased at the age of 4 years and 4 months. He first developed oral mucosa symptoms and vomiting at 4 years and 10 months of age, and they gradually worsened. Stopping eggs and milk alleviated the symptoms. Nevertheless, he still occasionally vomited. He started Pica eating disorder (sand and sponge) due to anemia from 5 years and 10 months of age and developed eosinophilia without diarrhea or bloody stool. Upper and lower GI tract endoscopic examinations found no bleeding. The GI mucosa showed eosinophil infiltration of more than 40/high-power field in the stomach and duodenum, so he was diagnosed with EGE. No eosinophils were found in the esophageal mucosa. His GI symptoms and anemia improved on a multiple-food-elimination diet. Patients undergoing OIT should be closely followed up for a long time, and those with GI symptoms should be evaluated by GI endoscopy.

Topics: Animals; Child; Enteritis; Eosinophilia; Food Hypersensitivity; Gastritis; Humans; Immunotherapy; Male; Pica

Topics: Albendazole; Animals; Anthelmintics; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Cats; Enoplida Infections; Eosinophilia; Fever of Unknown Origin; Hepatomegaly; Humans; Infant; Liver; Male; Pica; Prednisolone; Treatment Outcome

The objective of this study was to investigate the main clinical signs and symptoms of toxocarosis in children and the treatment results. The study group consisted of 66 seropositive children aged 2 to 16 years, evaluated in an outpatient clinic in north-eastern Poland for 24 months. Male gender and living in urban areas predominated in the study population. Children presented with non-specific symptoms, of which the most common was abdominal pain or tenderness, which was reported by 39 (59%) patients. Absolute eosinophil counts were increased in 32 (48%) children. Total IgE concentrations were increased in 31 of 55 (56%) tested children. All evaluated children received albendazole as a first-line treatment. In 19 cases, additional treatment with albendazole and/or diethylcarbamazine was provided. The analysis of possible causes of prolonged treatment revealed that significant risk factors were geophagia [odds ratio (OR), 6.3; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.8-21.8; p < 0.01] and daily contact with a dog [OR, 5.9; 95% CI, 1.3-27.3, p < 0.05]. We hypothesise that poor hygiene habits and daily contact with a dog pose a risk of reinfection and limits treatment efficiency. Because of non-specific signs and frequent lack of eosinophilia, physicians should maintain high levels of suspicion for toxocarosis, particularly in patients who live in regions heavily contaminated with Toxocara eggs.

Topics: Adolescent; Albendazole; Animals; Anthelmintics; Antibodies, Protozoan; Child; Child, Preschool; Diethylcarbamazine; Dogs; Eosinophilia; Female; Humans; Hygiene; Immunoglobulin E; Male; Pica; Poland; Risk Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; Toxocara; Toxocariasis; Treatment Outcome

Topics: Angiostrongylus cantonensis; Animals; Ataxia; Child, Preschool; Eosinophilia; Fever; Humans; Male; Meningitis; Pica; Strongylida Infections

Eosinophilic meningitis or encephalitis is a rare disorder and is most commonly caused by Angiostrongylus cantonensis. Humans are accidentally infected when they ingest raw snails or vegetables contaminated with the parasite larvae. Because of the improvement in sanitary food handling practices, the occurrence of A. cantonensis eosinophilic meningitis has been decreasing in Taiwan in recent decades. The common symptoms and signs of eosinophilic meningitis are severe headache, neck stiffness, paresthesia, vomiting, nausea, and fever. Acute urinary retention is a rare presentation. We report a case of A. cantonensis eosinophilic meningitis in an intellectually disabled patient who presented with acute urinary retention without any other meningeal signs. The patient received supportive treatment with corticosteroid therapy and was discharged and received urinary rehabilitation at home.

Topics: Adolescent; Angiostrongylus cantonensis; Animals; Eosinophilia; Humans; Intellectual Disability; Male; Meningitis; Pica; Strongylida Infections

Topics: Adult; Albendazole; Anthelmintics; Eosinophilia; Female; Glucocorticoids; Humans; Pica; Prednisone; Toxocariasis

The occurrence of the first seven cases of visceral larva migrans in Trinidad and Tobago is described. All cases occurred in children of the same family. The ELISA test was used to confirm the clinical diagnosis.. Visceral larva migrans is a syndrome caused by the extraintestinal migration of larval nematodes of wild and domestic animals through human tissues. Most cases occur in children under 5 years of age, with the common dog round worm apparently being the primary causative agent. This paper describes the occurrence of the first 7 cases of visceral larva migrans in Trinidad and Tobago. Cases occurred among siblings in the same family and were confirmed using the ELISA test. A mentally retarded 10-year old East Indian male was admitted to the Port of Spain General Hospital with a strong history of pica, recurrent wheezing, and epilepsy. Five siblings and one cousin were found living under extremely unsanitary conditions and in dire poverty. All had pica and Toxocara canis eggs were found in the dirt surrounding the dwelling. These eggs are most probably the common source of infection. Infection with Toxocara species is probably far more common than reported in Trinidad, given the large stray dog population and areas of primitive sanitary conditions. ELISA tests could be used to reveal additional infections in the country.

Topics: Blood Grouping and Crossmatching; Child; Child, Preschool; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Eosinophilia; Family Characteristics; Female; Hepatomegaly; Humans; Larva Migrans, Visceral; Male; Pica; Sensitivity and Specificity; Space-Time Clustering; Trinidad and Tobago

Topics: Ascariasis; Child, Preschool; Eosinophilia; Humans; Male; Pica; Radiography, Abdominal; Toxocariasis

Topics: Child; Child, Preschool; Eosinophilia; Female; Humans; Infant; Larva Migrans; Lead Poisoning; Male; Parasitic Diseases; Pica

Visceral larva migrans, Entamoeba coli, evidence of latent toxoplasmosis and a history of plumbism were found in an emotionally disturbed, retarded child. Patients with pica should be screened for parasitism and other diseases transmitted orally.

Topics: Child; Diagnosis, Differential; Drug Hypersensitivity; Entamoebiasis; Eosinophilia; Humans; Intellectual Disability; Larva Migrans, Visceral; Lead Poisoning; Male; Pica; Psychotic Disorders

Visceral larva migrans is a disease in which the larvae of animal parasites invade human tissues but do not complete their life cycles. The most frequent cause of this illness in children is the dog roundworm, Toxocara canis. A review of the literature, as well as our clinical experience, indicates that there are two forms of clinical expression: one, visceral, and the other, ocular. In general the clinical and laboratory abnormalities (hepatomegaly, recurrent pneumonia, eosinophilia, and hyperglobulinemia) usually associated with visceral disease are absent in children with ocular abnormalities. Conversely, there is a general lack of eye complications in patients with systemic disease. Reasons for these variations in clinical expression are unknown, but immune responses of the host and the antigenic composition of the parasite may be contributing factors.

Topics: Adrenal Cortex Hormones; Animals; Cats; Child; Child, Preschool; Citrates; Diethylcarbamazine; Dogs; Endophthalmitis; Eosinophilia; Female; History, 20th Century; Humans; Larva Migrans, Visceral; Male; Pica; Thiabendazole; Toxocara

Topics: Animals; Ascariasis; Biopsy; Child, Preschool; Diethylcarbamazine; Dogs; Eosinophilia; Hepatomegaly; Humans; Hypergammaglobulinemia; Infant; Larva Migrans, Visceral; Liver; Male; Parasite Egg Count; Pica; Prognosis; Toxocara; Zoonoses

Topics: Child, Preschool; Eosinophilia; Female; Hemagglutination Tests; Hepatomegaly; Humans; Larva Migrans, Visceral; Leukocytosis; Lung Diseases, Parasitic; Male; Pica; Soil; Time Factors