Author(s)

Vera Sicbaldi, Andrea Bellodi, Valerio Del Bono, Eleonora Arboscello, Riccardo Ghio

Clinic of Infectious Disease, IRCSS San Martino IST, Genoa, Italy.
Clinic of Internal Medicine 3, IRCSS San Martino IST, Genoa, Italy.

Human toxocariasis is a widespread parasitic disease caused by ingestion of Toxocara canis or catis larvae or eggs. Parasitic diseases are uncommon in industrialized countries, yet this problem has not disappeared. Parasitic diseases can cause different syndrome (visceral larva migrans, ocular larva migrans) and the clinical features can be confusing. Severe organ involvement affecting the liver, lungs, nervous central system and eyes can lead to serious damage. We present a case of toxocariasis presenting with fever, desaturation and cholestatic hepatitis. Only the subsequent appearance of eosinophilia helped us to arrive at the correct diagnosis. Prompt diagnosis allowed specific therapy avoiding permanent complications.

Toxocariasis; Visceral Larva Migrans; Ocular Larva Migrans; Parasitosis; Cholestatic Hepatitis; Eosinophilia

V. Sicbaldi, A. Bellodi, V. Del Bono, E. Arboscello and R. Ghio, "Human Toxocariasis Presenting with Fever and Colestatic Hepatitis: An Underestimated but Current Zoonosis," International Journal of Clinical Medicine, Vol. 3 No. 7, 2012, pp. 595-597. doi: 10.4236/ijcm.2012.37107.