
==== Front
Balkan Med J
Balkan Med J
BMJ
Balkan Medical Journal
2146-3123
2146-3131
Galenos Publishing

38148684
10.4274/balkanmedj.galenos.2023.2023-10-47
64601
Clinical Image
Cutaneous Larva Migrans
Martins-Filho Paulo Ricardo 1*https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8779-0727

Reinheimer Daniele Machado 2https://orcid.org/0009-0008-8232-6739

Soares-Neto Roberto Fernandes 3https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4500-5705

1 Federal University of Sergipe, Investigative Pathology Laboratory, Sergipe, Brazil
2 Private Practice, Sergipe, Brazil
3 Federal University of Sergipe, Residency Program in Dermatology, Sergipe, Brazil
* Address for Correspondence: Federal University of Sergipe, Investigative Pathology Laboratory, Sergipe, Brazil E-mail:prmartinsfh@gmail.com
3 2024
1 3 2024
41 2 144144
24 10 2023
7 12 2023
©Copyright 2024 by Trakya University Faculty of Medicine
2024
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ The Balkan Medical Journal published by Galenos Publishing House.
==== Body
pmcA 42-year-old male patient, resident of Northeast Brazil, presented with a 5-d history of a pruritic eruption on his foot (Figure 1a). Physical examination revealed a 1.5-2 cm long, serpiginous, slightly-elevated, erythematous, raised tract between toes T3 and T4 on the dorsal surface of the left foot (Figure 1b). The patient reported having played volleyball on the beach a few days prior to the onset of the rash. Laboratory tests, including eosinophil count, were within normal limits, indicating no systemic alterations. The patient was clinically diagnosed with cutaneous larva migrans and treated with topical thiabendazole three times a day for 10 days. The lesion healed after 2 weeks.

Cutaneous larva migrans is a prevalent parasitic skin disease, endemic to the tropics and subtropics, and caused by skin contact with soil contaminated with hookworm-containing dog and cat feces.1 Ancylostoma caninum, Ancylostoma braziliense, and Uncinaria stenocephala are the most common nematodes associated with this zoonotic infection.2 The skin manifestations of cutaneous larva migrans include a linear or serpiginous, pruritic larval track, with folliculitis and migratory subcutaneous nodules.3 The distinctive clinical appearance, in addition to a history of exposure to contaminated soil or sand, is sufficient for accurate diagnosis. Treatment for this condition involves application of topical thiabendazole or administration of oral albendazole.4 Prevention efforts for larva migrans focus on avoiding direct contact with contaminated soil5 by wearing footwear, in endemic areas, such as Brazil. Additionally, deworming of pets plays a critical role in eradicating the infection. Considering global population mobility, healthcare providers must consider travel history during clinical assessment. Moreover, communities in endemic regions must adopt preventive measures against this zoonosis.

Figure 1 (a, b). A 1.5-2 cm long, serpiginous, slightly-elevated, erythematous, raised tract between toes T3 and T4 on the dorsal surface of the left foot.

Informed Consent: Written informed consent was obtained from the patient.

Authorship Contributions: Concept- P.R.M.F., D.M.R.; Design- P.R.M.F., D.M.R., R.F.S.N.; Data Collection or Processing- P.R.M.F., R.F.S.N.; Analysis or Interpretation- P.R.M.F., D.M.R., R.F.S.N.; Writing- P.R.M.F., D.M.R.

Conflict of Interest: No conflict of interest was declared by the authors.
==== Refs
References

1 Lesshafft H Schuster A Reichert F Talhari S Ignatius R Feldmeier H Knowledge, attitudes, perceptions, and practices regarding cutaneous larva migrans in deprived communities in Manaus, Brazil J Infect Dev Ctries 2011 6 422 429
2 Hochedez P Caumes E Hookworm‐Related Cutaneous Larva Migrans J Travel Med 2007 14 326 333 17883464
3 Sakai H Otsubo S Nakao M Yamasaki H Kagei N Iizuka H Multiple papules and nodules on the face and neck caused by the larvae of an unknown nematode: A noncreeping type eruption J Am Acad Dermatol 2008 58 668 670 18342712
4 Davies HD Creeping Eruption Arch Dermatol 1993 129 588 8481019
5 Tianyi F-L Agbor VN Kadia BM Dimala CA An unusual case of extensive truncal cutaneous larva migrans in a Cameroonian baby: a case report J Med Case Rep 2018 12 270 30231902
