Aim: Human toxocariasis is caused by infection with the larval stage of nematode parasites of dogs
and cats, Toxocara canis or Toxocara cati. These helminths are not able to complete their life cycle in
undefinitive hosts and so undergo aberrant migrations in the tissues causing a wide spectrum of
signs and symptoms. Eosinophilia is often severe and sometimes represents the only sign of
infection, except in ocular and neurological forms.
Methods: We describe the clinical features of nine children affected by toxocariasis admitted to our
Infectious Diseases department from 2004 to 2006.
Results: Fever and hepatomegaly were the most common clinical findings. In two cases eosinophilia
was not present. Diagnosis was performed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay employing
excretory–secretory antigens of Toxocara. canis larvae. All patients were successfully treated with oral
albendazole with no side effects