Cutaneous Larva Migrans with Löeffler’s Syndrome

Ya-Li Gao Department of Dermatology, Affiliated Third Hospital of Hangzhou, Anhui Medical University, Hangzhou, China

Search for other papers by Ya-Li Gao in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
and
Ze-Hu Liu Department of Dermatology, Affiliated Third Hospital of Hangzhou, Anhui Medical University, Hangzhou, China

Search for other papers by Ze-Hu Liu in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close

A 26-year-old woman presented with itching serpiginous, slightly elevated, erythematous tracks on her right upper (Figure 1A) and lower extremity (Figure 1B, C) over a period of 2 weeks. She also referred nonproductive cough and occasional breathlessness for 1 week. She did not recall a history of an insect bite, yet she had traveled to Sabah, Malaysia, a month ago. She confessed that she had buried her body in the sand.

Figure 1.
Figure 1.

Serpiginous erythematous track on the right upper extremity (A) and lower extremity (B, C).

Citation: The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 100, 3; 10.4269/ajtmh.18-0406

Reflectance confocal microscopy showed burrow and a highly refractile oval larva in the epidermis (Figure 2). Laboratory studies showed mild eosinophilia. Histopathology showed only prominent infiltration of eosinophils around the vessels in the dermis without a hookworm larva (Figure 3). The computed tomography (CT) scan showed ill-defined reticulonodular infiltrates in both lungs (Figure 4A). Thus, she was diagnosed with cutaneous larva migrans (CLM) with Löeffler’s syndrome. The patient was treated with oral albendazole 400 mg for seven consecutive days. The lesions stopped creeping and itch was relieved within 24 hours. Peripheral eosinophilia normalized and breathlessness resolved 7 days later. In the follow-up CT scan, the reticulonodular infiltrates in lungs had disappeared (Figure 4B).

Figure 2.
Figure 2.

Reflectance confocal microscopy showed burrow (white arrow) and a highly refractile larva (red arrow) in the epidermis.

Citation: The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 100, 3; 10.4269/ajtmh.18-0406

Figure 3.
Figure 3.

Histopathology showed only prominent infiltration of eosinophils around the vessels in the dermis.

Citation: The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 100, 3; 10.4269/ajtmh.18-0406

Figure 4.
Figure 4.

CT scan showed ill-defined reticulonodular infiltrates in both lungs (A), and disappeared 10 days after treatment (B).

Citation: The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 100, 3; 10.4269/ajtmh.18-0406

Cutaneous larva migrans is one of the most frequent travel-associated skin diseases on beach destinations in the tropics or subtropics. This location mirrors the geographic distribution of Ancylostoma braziliense. The most frequent anatomic locations of CLM lesions are the lower extremities (73.4%).1 The larvae migrate aimlessly within the epidermis at a rate of a couple of millimeters to 2 cm a day, for it lacks the enzymes necessary to penetrate and survive in the deeper dermis.2

Cutaneous larva migrans is usually confined to the skin, where it causes creeping eruption and rarely results in severe infestations. However, it can also cause pulmonary and intestinal symptoms,3 leading to eosinophilic enteritis or Löeffler’s syndrome. This is characterized by the pulmonary infiltrates and eosinophilia, and is considered to be an immunologic reaction to the larvae, regardless of whether the larvae remain in the skin or have migrated to the lungs.4,5 Differential diagnosis includes other insect bite reactions, tinea corporis, erythema chronicum migrans, and contact dermatitis. Oral ivermectin or/and albendazole are effective treatment options for this self-limiting disease.

Our case highlights that it is important for physicians to consider a CLM infection in patients with cough and breathlessness associated with itching creeping eruptions in skin, especially if there is a history of recent travel to the tropics and contact with sand.

Acknowledgments:

We thank Karen E. Ferez for reviewing the manuscript.

REFERENCES

  • 1.

    Jelinek T, Maiwald H, Nothdurft HD, Loscher T, 1994. Cutaneous larva migrans in travelers: synopsis of histories, symptoms, and treatment of 98 patients. Clin Infect Dis 19: 10621066.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 2.

    Sherman SC, Radford N, 2004. Severe infestation of cutaneous larva migrans. J Emerg Med 26: 347349.

  • 3.

    Bowman DD, Montgomery SP, Zajac AM, Eberhard ML, Kazacos KR, 2010. Hookworms of dogs and cats as agents of cutaneous larva migrans. Trends Parasitol 26: 162167.

  • 4.

    Butland RJ, Coulson IH, 1985. Pulmonary eosinophilia associated with cutaneous larva migrans. Thorax 40: 7677.

  • 5.

    Schaub N, Perruchoud AP, Buechner S, 2002. Cutaneous larva migrans associated with Loffler’s syndrome. Dermatology 205: 207209.

Author Notes

Address correspondence to Ze-Hu Liu, Department of Dermatology, Affiliated Third Hospital of Hangzhou, Anhui Medical University, West Lake Rd. 38, Hangzhou, China. E-mail: zehuliu@yahoo.com

Authors’ addresses: Ya-Li Gao and Ze-Hu Liu, Department of Dermatology, Affiliated Third Hospital of Hangzhou, Anhui Medical University, Hangzhou, China, E-mails: liyagao1989@163.com and zehuliu@yahoo.com.

  • Figure 1.

    Serpiginous erythematous track on the right upper extremity (A) and lower extremity (B, C).

  • Figure 2.

    Reflectance confocal microscopy showed burrow (white arrow) and a highly refractile larva (red arrow) in the epidermis.

  • Figure 3.

    Histopathology showed only prominent infiltration of eosinophils around the vessels in the dermis.

  • Figure 4.

    CT scan showed ill-defined reticulonodular infiltrates in both lungs (A), and disappeared 10 days after treatment (B).

  • 1.

    Jelinek T, Maiwald H, Nothdurft HD, Loscher T, 1994. Cutaneous larva migrans in travelers: synopsis of histories, symptoms, and treatment of 98 patients. Clin Infect Dis 19: 10621066.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 2.

    Sherman SC, Radford N, 2004. Severe infestation of cutaneous larva migrans. J Emerg Med 26: 347349.

  • 3.

    Bowman DD, Montgomery SP, Zajac AM, Eberhard ML, Kazacos KR, 2010. Hookworms of dogs and cats as agents of cutaneous larva migrans. Trends Parasitol 26: 162167.

  • 4.

    Butland RJ, Coulson IH, 1985. Pulmonary eosinophilia associated with cutaneous larva migrans. Thorax 40: 7677.

  • 5.

    Schaub N, Perruchoud AP, Buechner S, 2002. Cutaneous larva migrans associated with Loffler’s syndrome. Dermatology 205: 207209.

Past two years Past Year Past 30 Days
Abstract Views 0 0 0
Full Text Views 3468 1842 423
PDF Downloads 680 99 7
 

 

 

 
 
Affiliate Membership Banner
 
 
Research for Health Information Banner
 
 
CLOCKSS
 
 
 
Society Publishers Coalition Banner
Save