Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Cerebral toxocariasis: a possible cause of epileptic seizure in children

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Child's Nervous System Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction

Toxocariasis is a worldwide human helminthiasis, which is mostly asymptomatic and caused by toxocara canis, a roundworm in dogs. These can cause visceral larva migrans syndrome in humans who ingest contaminated soil. CNS manifestation with a focal mass lesion is very rare, seizures often being the first symptom.

Case report

We describe an 11-year-old girl presenting with a generalized epileptic seizure and eosinophilia in blood. Under antibiotic therapy under the assumption of toxoplasmosis the lesion did not decrease and surgical resection was considered. We used computer-assisted surgery (CAS) for careful tissue resection. Postoperatively the diagnosis of toxocariasis was confirmed and albendozole medication was administered for 7 days. The patient developed well without neurological deficits or seizures.

Conclusion

We conclude that although neurological involvement is rare in toxocariasis, a cerebral infection in a child with epileptic seizures and eosinophilia should be considered.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1a–c
Fig. 2
Fig. 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Arpino C, Gattinara GC, Piergili D, Curato P (1990) Toxocara infection and epilepsy in children: a case-control study. Epilepsia 31:33–36

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Dousset V, Sibon I, Menegon P (2003) Case no 6. Cerebral vasculitis due to toxocara canis (or catis origin). J Radiol 84:89–91

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Goffette S, Jeanjean A, Duprez T, Bigaignon G, Sindic C (2000) Eosinophilic pleocytosis and myelitis related to toxocara canis infection. Eur J Neurol 7:703–706

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Gould M, Newell S, Green SH, Gorge RH (1985) Toxocariasis and eosinophilic meningitis. Br Med J 291:1239–1240

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Hill IR, Denham DA, Scholtz CL (1985) Toxocara canis larvae in the brain of a British child. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 79:351–354

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Kumar J, Kimm J (1994) MR in Toxocara canis myelopathy. Am J Neuroradiol 15:1918–1920

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Laufer M (2002) Toxocariasis. http://www.emedicine.com/ped/topic2270.htm, February 1, 2002

  8. Nelson I, Frost JL, Schochet SS Jr (1990) Unsuspected cerebral Toxocara infection in a fire victim. Clin Neuropathol 9:106–108

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Oktar N, Barcin E, Kazandi AC, Korkmaz M (2002) Cerebral Toxocara mimicking a malignant glioma. Norol Bil D 19:2. http://www.med.egeedu.tr/norolbil/2002/NBD19202.htm

  10. Oujamaa L, Sibon I, Vital A, Menegon P (2003) Cerebral vasculitis secondary to toxocara canis and fasciola hepatica co-infestation. Rev Neurol (Paris) 159:447–450

    Google Scholar 

  11. Richartz E, Buchkremer G (2002) Cerebral toxocariasis: a rare cause of cognitive disorders. A contribution to differential dementia diagnosis. Nervenarzt 73:458–462

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Russegger L, Schmutzhard E (1989) Spinal toxocaral abscess. Lancet 12:398

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Ruttinger P, Hadidi H (1991) MRI in cerebral toxocaral disease. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 54:361–362

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Sommer C, Ringelstein EB, Biniek R, Glockner WM (1994) Adult Toxocara canis encephalitis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 57:229–231

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Strupp M, Pfister HW, Eichenlaub S, Arbusow V (1999) Meningomyelitis in a case of toxocariasis with markedly isolated CSF eosinophilia and an MRI-documented related thoracic cord lesion. J Neurol 246:741–744

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Vidal JE, Sztajnbok J, Seguro AC (2003) Eosinophilic meningoencephalitis due to Toxocara canis: case report and review of the literature. Am J Trop Med Hyg 69:341–343

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Viovy A, Jofrè L, Noemi I, Erazo R, Cerva J (1999) Granuloma cerebral por toxocara: comunicacion de un caso clinico. Rev Chil Infectol 15:312–316

    Google Scholar 

  18. Westermann B, Hauser H (2000) Online head motion tracking applied to the patient registration problem. Comput Aided Surg 5:137–147

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Xinou E, Lefkopoulos A, Gelagoti M, Drevelegas A, Diakou A, Milon Dimitriadis AS (2003) CT and MRI imaging findings in cerebral toxocaral disease. Am J Neuroradiol 24:714–718

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Zachariah SB, Zachariah B, Varghese R (1994) Neuroimaging studies of cerebral “visceral larva migrans” syndrome. J Neuroimaging 4:39–40

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital Basel, Spitalstrasse 21, 4031, Basel, Switzerland

    Heidi Bächli & Otmar Gratzl

  2. Department of Pediatrics, University Children’s Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland

    Jean Claude Minet

Authors
  1. Heidi Bächli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jean Claude Minet
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Otmar Gratzl
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Heidi Bächli.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bächli, H., Minet, J.C. & Gratzl, O. Cerebral toxocariasis: a possible cause of epileptic seizure in children. Childs Nerv Syst 20, 468–472 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-004-0963-x

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00381-004-0963-x

Keywords

Search

Navigation