Seroepidemiological Evaluation of Toxocariasis in Egyptian Children Suffering from Recurrent Urticaria

Bayoumy, Ahmed Mohamed; Atallah, Rabie Bedier; Mohamed, Khaled Abd El-Aziz; Zaalouk, Tarek Khameis; Ghazy, Mustafa El-Shahat; El-Kenany, Mohamed Ahmed

doi:10.21608/ejhm.2019.43805

Seroepidemiological Evaluation of Toxocariasis in Egyptian Children Suffering from Recurrent Urticaria

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Boys

² Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Al-Azhar University, Damietta

³ Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Damietta, Al-Azhar University

10.21608/ejhm.2019.43805

Abstract

Background: human toxocariasis is one of the most common zoonotic helminthiases reported all over the world. Large spectrum of clinical diseases due to toxocariasis including cutaneous diseases particularly urticaria has been identified by recent diagnostic laboratory tests. Objective: it was to evaluate the Toxocara seroprevalence in children diagnosed with chronic urticaria (CU) and to identify its possible relationship with epidemiological, laboratory and clinical aspects, through a case–control study presented at the Dermatology Outpatient Clinic of Al-Azhar University Hospital in New Damietta City. Patients and Methods: seventy children diagnosed with CU and seventy healthy controls were included in the study. Sociodemographic risk factors for toxocariasis were analyzed based on a questionnaire collected from the children’s parents or guardians, then all of the children were subjected to thorough clinical examination, stool examination to exclude other parasites and blood samples were collected and tested for eosinophilic count by CBC as well as estimation of anti-Toxocara IgG antibodies by means of western blot (WB) test. Results: Toxocara IgG was positive in 18.5% (n=13). It was significantly higher than among the cross-matched 70 healthy controls (4.2%). This study confirmed the possibility of significant association between the seroprevalence of Toxocara and possible socioepidemiological factors as contact with pets or soil, geophagia as well as state of house. Regarding clinical manifestations and laboratory investigations, bronchial asthma, rhinitis and conjunctivitis were found to be significantly associated with Toxocara seroprevalence. Conclusion: Toxocara infection should be considered as an important cause of recurrent urticaria among children population in developing countries.

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