| Angiostrongyliasis | |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Infectious diseases  |
Angiostrongyliasis is an infection by a roundworm of the Angiostrongylus type. Symptoms may vary from none, to mild, to meningitis.[1]
Infection with Angiostrongylus cantonensis (rat lungworm) can occur after ingestion of raw or undercooked snails or slugs, and less likely unwashed fruits and vegetables.
In humans, A. cantonensis is the most common cause of eosinophilic meningitis or meningoencephalitis.[2] Frequently the infection will resolve without treatment or serious consequences, but in cases with a heavy load of parasites the infection can be so severe it can cause permanent damage to the central nervous system or death.[3]
- ^ Liu, EW; Schwartz, BS; Hysmith, ND; DeVincenzo, JP; Larson, DT; Maves, RC; Palazzi, DL; Meyer, C; Custodio, HT; Braza, MM; Al Hammoud, R; Rao, S; Qvarnstrom, Y; Yabsley, MJ; Bradbury, RS; Montgomery, SP (3 August 2018). "Rat Lungworm Infection Associated with Central Nervous System Disease - Eight U.S. States, January 2011-January 2017". MMWR. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 67 (30): 825–828. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6730a4. PMC 6072054. PMID 30070981.
- ^ Baheti NN; Sreedharan M; et al. (2008). "Eosinophilic meningitis and an ocular worm in a patient from Kerala, south India". J. Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiatry. 79 (271): 271. doi:10.1136/jnnp.2007.122093. PMID 18281446. S2CID 207001013.
- ^ David, John T. and Petri, William A Jr. Markell and Voge's Medical Parasitology. St. Louis, MO: El Sevier, 2006.