Hakeormrelatert kutan larva migrans - et Ullevålmateriale

Abstract

Dermatoses are one of the leading causes of health problems among travelers, especially in tropical and subtropical regions, worldwide. In the international GeoSentinel network started in 1995 for the surveillance of travel-related disease, dermatological conditions ranks third after fever-related diseases and acute diarrhea. Cutaneous larva migrans (CLM) is one of the most common causes of travel-related dermatoses. In some areas, CLM represent up to 25% of skin lesions seen in travelers. As travel to exotic destinations are increasing among Norwegians, we wanted to investigate whether CLM was a common complaint at the Outpatient Clinic at OUS Ullevål, what treatment the patients with this condition received, the topographic location of lesions and where patients had been traveling when aquiring CLM.

CLM is a syndrome defined clinically and parasitologically as subcutaneous migration of a nematode, most frequently hookworms. Clinically, it is characterized by a lesion referred to as a creeping eruption, or creeping dermatitis.

In our study we have reviewed notes from patients that have been treated at the Outpatient Clinic at OUS Ullevål from 01.01.2000 to 01.08.2009 with the diagnosis (ICD-10) B768 (Other hookworm diseases) or B769 (Hookworm disease, unspecified). We found that a majority of the 57 patients included in this study had traveled in South-East Asia, 86% had lesions on their lower extremities, and 84 % received Ivermectin as their primary treatment. Our results coincide with similar studies.