A case of calabar swelling suspected as loiasis

ABSTRACT

This report deals with an imported case of calabar swelling suspective of loiasis, who had been in Nigeria, Africa for 2 years. This 33-year-old Korean technician was admitted to Severance Hospital, Yonsei University Medical Center, because of erythematous swellings on left hand and foot. His peripheral blood showed persistent eosinophilia (over 30 percent of WBC), increased IgE(1,000 unit/ml) and significantly high antifilarial antibody titer with enzyme immunoassay, although no microfilaria was detected on the peripheral blood films. Under the impression of Loa loa infection diethylcarbamazine was administered for a month. Four months later mobile swellings and eosinophilia disappeared, and anti-filarial antibody titers were normalized. It is assumed that the patient had suffered from Loa loa infection, which is the first report on loiasis in Korea.