Angiostrongylosis and eosinophilic meningitis in infants in Reunion.

Etiologic diagnosis of Angiostrongylus cantonensis meningitis is difficult. A. cantonensis is a nematode, the normal cycle of which includes hosts suc h as rats, snails and prawns. Occasionally, infected humans may be a parasi tic end. Case report - Two cases of A. cantonensis meningitis were diagnose d between 1993 and 1998. In both cases, diagnosis was serologically proved. A. cantonensis was considered because of hyper eosinophilia in the blood a nd cerebral spinal fluid (CSF). Treatment of A, cantonensis meningitis is c ontroversial, Corticosteroids and anthelminthics (albendazole, thiabendazol e, levamisole and praziquantel) are suggested Prognosis is often good but n eurologic sequels have been reported. Conclusion - Diagnosis of A. cantonen sis meningitis must be considered for meningitis occurring in children resi ding in or having visited the Reunion, when there is hypereosinophilia in t he blood and CSF (C) 1999 Elsevier; Paris.