ABSTRACT
Toxocariasis is a zoonotic disease that occurs when humans are infected by the parasites Toxocara canis or Toxocara cati. Toxocariasis is highly prevalent in tropical areas, but can also be found in industrialized countries, particularly in rural areas. Clinical presentation can range from asymptomatic infection to more severe disease. Diagnosis of toxocariasis is based on suggestive clinical findings, eosinophilia and a positive serological testing. Albendazole represents the first-line treatment, associated with corticosteroids in case of severe disease. Here we describe three clinical cases of toxocariasis in order to illustrate the clinical presentation, diagnosis and treatment of this unrecognized disease.
La toxocarose est une zoonose liée à l'infection de l'homme par Toxocara canis et Toxocara cati. Sa prévalence est élevée dans les zones tropicales, mais également dans les pays industrialisés, notamment dans les zones rurales. La plupart des formes sont asymptomatiques, se révélant par la présence d'une éosinophilie. Une dissémination, syndrome de larva migrans viscérale, et une atteinte oculaire, syndrome de larva migrans oculaire, sont les deux principaux syndromes. Le diagnostic de la toxocarose repose sur la présence d'une symptomatologie compatible, d'une éosinophilie et d'une sérologie positive. Le traitement de choix est l'albendazole, associé aux corticostéroïdes en cas d'atteinte sévère. Nous présentons trois cas de toxocarose, afin d'illustrer la présentation, le diagnostic et la prise en charge de cette infection méconnue.
Subject(s)
Neglected Diseases/diagnosis , Toxocariasis/diagnosis , Zoonoses/diagnosis , Adrenal Cortex Hormones/therapeutic use , Adult , Aged , Albendazole/therapeutic use , Animals , Eosinophilia/diagnosis , Eosinophilia/parasitology , Female , Humans , Middle Aged , Neglected Diseases/drug therapy , Neglected Diseases/epidemiology , Prevalence , Serologic Tests , Switzerland/epidemiology , Toxocara/isolation & purification , Toxocariasis/drug therapy , Toxocariasis/epidemiology , Zoonoses/drug therapy , Zoonoses/parasitologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The varicella zoster virus affects the central or peripheral nervous systems upon reactivation, especially when cell-mediated immunity is impaired. Among varicella zoster virus-related neurological syndromes, meningoradiculitis is an ill-defined condition for which clear management guidelines are still lacking. Zoster paresis is usually considered to be a varicella zoster virus-peripheral nervous system complication and treated with oral antiviral therapy. Yet in the literature, the few reported cases of herpes zoster with mild cerebral spinal fluid inflammation were all considered meningoradiculitis and treated using intravenous antiviral drugs, despite absence of systemic signs of meningitis. Nevertheless, these two clinical pictures are very similar. CASE PRESENTATION: We report the case of an alcohol-dependent elderly Caucasian man presenting with left lower limb zoster paresis and mild cerebral spinal fluid inflammation, with favorable outcome upon IV antiviral treatment. We discuss interpretation of liquor inflammation in the absence of clinical meningitis and implications for the antiviral treatment route. CONCLUSION: From this case report we suggest that varicella zoster virus-associated meningoradiculitis should necessarily include meningitis symptoms with the peripheral neurological deficits and cerebral spinal fluid inflammation, requiring intravenous antiviral treatment. In the absence of (cell-mediated) immunosuppression, isolated zoster paresis does not necessitate spinal tap or intravenous antiviral therapy.
