Summary
Toxocariasis is a cosmopolitan parasitosis that generally affects children. It is caused by the invasion of human viscera by nematode larvae, e.g. Toxocara, which are normally intestinal parasites of animals. T. canis, (parasite of dogs), and to a lesser degree T. cati (parasite of cats) are the most common causes of toxocariasis. The clinical aspect of toxocariasis is that of visceral Larva migrans, with extremely variable signs that differ between patients and depend on the number of invading larvae. Spontaneous recovery with death of the larvae occurs after one year or more in over 50% of cases. Albendazole is the main current treatment, but provides poor results. *Author: Dr L. Paris (February 2005)*.
