WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

Thiago Sande Miguel, Bruna Sande Miguel, Vinicius Sande Miguel, Rafaela Pereira Neiva, Daniel Almeida da Costa* and Maurício Bastos Pereira

ABSTRACT

Toxocariasis is an important neglected tropical disease that can manifest as visceral or ocular larva migrans, or occult toxocariasis. All three forms represent a public health problem and cause significant morbidity in high-prevalence areas. Despite being one of the most common zoonotic infections worldwide, human toxocariasis has been one of the most neglected tropical diseases. Although most human infections are asymptomatic, two main syndromes of human toxocariasis are classically recognized: systemic toxocariasis (ST) and ocular toxocariasis (OT), caused by migration of Toxocara larvae to the eye. OT is usually a unilateral disease that usually presents as a retinal granuloma and is characterized by a yellowish or whitish inflammatory mass in the posterior pole or periphery of the retina. The granuloma itself or other associated conditions such as epiretinal membrane, macular edema, and retinal detachment can cause permanent damage to the retina with a consequent decrease in visual acuity. OT is clinically diagnosed by identifying clinical signs in the eye exam. Serological tests such as enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect serum antibodies against Toxocara larvae can confirm the diagnosis. Combined corticosteroid and albendazole therapy in patients with active inflammation has been shown to be favorable. Prevention, increasing public awareness and reducing the risk of infection is critical.