ABSTRACT

Toxocariasis is an infection caused by the ingestion of larvae of the dog Toxocara canis or the cat Toxocara cati. A 2.5 year old boy was admitted to our clinics with fever, abdominal pain and loss of appetite. His medical history included geophagia (pica) and amebiasis infection. On admission, the physical examination revealed hepatomegaly and pallor. There was marked eosinophilia with leukocytosis, anemia, hypergammaglobulinemia and elevated serum Ig E titers. Toxocariasis was confirmed by anti-Toxocara IgG and Western blot. After 7 days of albendazole therapy, leukocytosis persisted and a second course of albendazole combined with prednisolone was administered. After 3 weeks, the eosinophil count had decreased and the patient showed resolution of hepatomegaly, but Toxocara serology remained elevated. (Turkiye Parazitol Derg 2013; 37: 58-60)

Keywords: Toxocariasis, hypereosinophilia, treatment