RELAPSE OF THE MANIFEST COURSE OF LARVAL TOXOCAROSIS IN CHILDHOOD

The paper presents the epidemiological findings in children infected f or the first time at the age of 1-5 years. The children were repeatedl y hospitalized with recurrent clinical toxocarosis, confirmed by the p resence of high (1:1600) to very high (1:3200) titers of anti-Toxocara IgG antibodies. Within 72 months since the first infection 14 relapse s occurred in the patients studied. The blood count of most of them sh owed the presence of eosinophilia and sporadically of leucocytosis for as long as 36 months since the first infection. The reduced level of haemoglobin persisted for 48 months and high titers of anti-Toxocara I gG antibodies for as long as 72 months post the first infection. Of to tal immunoglobulins, Ige were elevated in 50 % of children as early as on their infection and this elevation endured. IgA were increased in 28.6 % only with the first infection, IgM in 85.7 % with the infection and the first relapse and in all cases with the 2nd and 3rd recurrenc e. The highest elevation was observed in total IgE immunoglobulins. Ch ildren coming from dog or cat-keeping or puppy-breeding families are a t the greatest risk of recurrent larval toxocarosis.