Tuberc Respir Dis.  2007 Jan;62(1):19-26. 10.4046/trd.2007.62.1.19.

The Characteristics of Eosinophilc Lung Diseases Cause by Toxocara Canis Larval Infestation

• Kim YJ
• Kyung SY
• An CH
• Lim YH
• Park JW
• Jeong SH
• Lee SP
• Choi DC
• Jeong YB
• Kang SY

• KMID: 1518485
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2007.62.1.19

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Toxocariasis is a common cause of eosinophilia and eosinophilic lung disease in Korea. We analyzed the characteristics of eosinophilic lung disease in toxocariasis. METHOD: One hundred and forty one patients with eosinophilia caused by a toxocara larval infection were evaluated from September 1, 2001 through March 30, 2006. The plain chest x-ray, chest CT(computed tomography), and bronchoalveolar larvage(BAL) were examined. A diagnosis of toxocariasis was made by ELISA using that secretory-excretory antigen from the T. canis larvae.
RESULTS
Toxocarial eosinophilic lung diseases was diagnosed in 32 out of 141 patients. Ground glass attenuation was the main feature on the CT scans in 23 out of 141 patients (71.9%). Thirteen patients (40.6%) had a random in zonal distribution on CT. Pleural effusion was observed in 9 patients (28.1%). Twenty eight patients (87.5%) complained of respiratory symptoms. Eleven patients (34.4%) had gastrointestinal symptoms and 12 patients (37.5%) had liver infiltration.
CONCLUSIONS
The most common findings of the chest CT in patients with toxocariasis was a randomly distributed ground grass attenuation. A toxocara infection should be considered in a differential diagnosis of patients who exhibit pulmonary infiltration with eosinophilia in Korea.

Keyword

Eosinophilia; Pneumonia; Toxocara; Parasite

MeSH Terms

Diagnosis
Diagnosis, Differential
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Eosinophilia
Eosinophils
Fluconazole
Glass
Humans
Korea
Larva
Liver
Lung Diseases*
Lung*
Parasites
Pleural Effusion
Pneumonia
Poaceae
Thorax
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
Toxocara canis*
Toxocara*
Toxocariasis
Fluconazole

Figure

• 

  Figure 1 (A) Chest X-ray from 27 year-old male patient with toxocariasis showing numerous, poorly defined multiple patchy increased densities area scattered in both upper and lower lobe. 1(B) After 1months later, Chest X-ray reveals nealry disappered numerous, poorly defined multiple patchy increased densities area scattered in both upper and lower lobe (C) Chest computed tomography scan from 47 year-old female patient with toxocariasis showing multifocal patch or ill defined nodular ground glass opacity in right lung and left upper lobe. (D)After 5months later, Chest computed tomography scan reveals nearly disappered multifocal patch or ill defined nodular ground glass opacity in right lung and left upper lobe.

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