OCULAR TOXOCARIASIS IN CHILDREN AND YOUTH

The number of infections with larvae of the Toxocara canis worm has be en continuously increasing in the Polish population, and the diagnosis and treatment of this disease is difficult. The authors describe 81 c ases of eye infection in children and youth at the age of 3 to 18 year s. The lesions in 94 eyes were observed for 0.5 to 11 years. In all pa tients the diagnosis was confirmed by ELISA test. In the clinical pict ure various forms of uveitis and granuloma of the eye fundus were foun d. The treatment consisted in general and topical application of antih elmintics, antibiotics and corticosteroids. In 23 eyes photocoagulatio n, in 11 cryopexy, and in 3 vitrectomy was performed. Clinical improve ment was observed in 50 eyes, stabilization of the lesions in 41 eyes, and deterioration in the remaining 3 eyes. The authors conclude that the best results are obtained through conservative treatment combined with photocoagulation and cryopexy.