14th ICID - Poster Abstracts - International Society for Infectious ...

When citing these abstracts please use the following reference:
Author(s) of abstract. Title of abstract [abstract]. Int J Infect Dis 2010;14S1: Abstract number.
Please note that the official publication of the International Journal of Infectious Diseases 2010, Volume 14, Supplement 1
is available electronically on http://www.sciencedirect.com
Final Abstract Number: 32.030
Session: Travel Medicine and Travel Health
Date: Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Time: 12:30-13:30
Room: Poster & Exhibition Area/Ground Level
Type: Poster Presentation
Hookworm-related cutaneous Larva Migrans: An annoying souvenir of some trips
S. Lloveras 1 , S. E. Echazarreta 2 , T. Orduna 1
1 Corunna, Argentina, 2 Hospital F.J.Muñiz, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Background: Hookworm-related Cutaneous Larva Migrans (HrCLM) in travellers is a common
but neglected parasitic skin disease that results from a zoonotic nematode infection and shows a
characteristic creeping eruption due to penetration and migration of the larva within the epidermis.
Methods: We performed a retrospective survey of patients with this illness assisted at our Unit
from 1999 trough 2008.
Results: A total of 64 individuals received a diagnosis of HrCLM, and among them there were 55
(85.93 %) who had acquired it in the Brazilian beaches, but also in Costa Rica, Paraguay, Peru,
Senegal, Thailand and Venezuela.
Three patients were domestic travelers and they had acquired the creeping eruption in Argentina.
Fifty percent of the 64 affected patients were young adults between 20–39 years. Lesions were
mainly unique (90.6%) and affected feet (82.75%).
The symptoms appeared to 70.35% (n=45) of patients, between 3 and 7 days after returning from
the trip. Eleven (17.18%) patients had secondary bacterial infection. Out of 64 patients assisted,
62 (96.87%) were cured by a single course of treatment: 48 patients with ivermectin, 11 with oral
thiabendazole plus topics of 10% thiabendazole cream; one received oral albendazole, 400 mg a
day for 3 days and one patient’s treatment was not recorded. Two patients (3.12%) required a
second course of therapy.
Conclusion: As travel to the tropics increases, many travelers may be returning to their countries
with this infection, which is often misdiagnosed or incorrectly treated.
Although there are various treatments available, it is necessary to have prospective and
randomized controlled trial to compare their efficacy.
Among the preventive measures, that can be suggested to travelers, are to avoid walking
barefoot has proved to decrease the disease impact and also reduce the contact of skin areas
with contaminated soil or beaches, by lying on a canvas for sunbathing or to rest.
Furthermore, Public Health measures must be put into practice to avoid the presence of loose
animals and to promote deworming of the same.