Pediatric neurotoxocariasis with concomitant cerebral, cerebellar, and peripheral nervous system involvement: case report and review of the literature

Abstract

To alert pediatricians to the neurologic consequences of toxocariasis and to describe the first pediatric case of neurotoxocariasis with concomitant cerebral, cerebellar and peripheral nervous system involvement. We report a case of neurotoxocariasis in a previously healthy 5-year-old boy with unusual symptoms and multi-site involvement of both the central and peripheral nervous system. Differential diagnoses are discussed and the relevant literature is reviewed. Since the early 1950s, fewer than fifty cases have been described, mostly in adult patients. Although human toxocariasis is one of the most common zoonotic helminth infections, neurotoxocariasis is a rare condition, especially in pediatric patients. Although toxocariasis usually presents as a self-limiting disease with no central nervous system involvement, when it does occur, it can be devastating. Neurotoxocariasis should be added to the differential diagnosis of pediatric patients with unusual neurologic symptoms accompanied by high levels of eosinophils in the cerebrospinal fluid. Early diagnosis and treatment can prevent long-term neurologic sequelae.