Skin manifestations associated with toxocariasis: A case-control study

Background: Human toxocariasis is one of the most common zoonotic helminthi ases. The recent development of sensitive and specific diagnostic laborator y tests has led to identify a large spectrum of diseases, including cutaneo us diseases, induced by Toxocara infection. Objective: The purpose of our s tudy was to assess the risk of having a positive Toxocara ELISA test in pat ients with different cutaneous symptoms. Methods: The diagnosis of toxocari asis was based on an ELISA test which was performed in 653 patients sufferi ng from different skin conditions during a prospective case-control study. Results: The excess of risk (adjusted odds ratio) of having a positive resu lt in the Toxocara ELISA was statistically significant for 134 patients wit h urticaria (whatever the clinical presentation) and for 22 patients with p rurigo compared to a control group (249 patients). No statistical excess of risk was observed for patients with atopic dermatitis, pruritus or non-ato pic eczema. Conclusion: The authors conclude that patients suffering from u rticaria or prurigo should be tested for Toxocara infection. Whether these patients should be treated with anthelminthic drugs remains to be determine d in further studies. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.