Creeping Bugs and Winding Rash-Series of Cutaneous Larva Migrans Cases from Southern Suburban Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Abstract

Cutaneous Larva Migrans (CLM) is caused by penetration of skin by the third stage larvae of hookworms, and most commonly caused by Ancylostoma braziliense (dog hookworm). Humans act as dead-end hosts for this parasite. This series reports six cases of creeping eruptions that occurred on buttocks and back in four infants and on the feet in two toddlers. All the cases clustered after the rainy seasons in the months of December and January. Diagnosis was established based on history and clinical examination. All six children were administered five days of albendazole and they recovered completely. This series is presented to make readers aware of the underestimated public health problem in infants with distinctive skin eruptions of larva migrans occurring in the tropical subcontinent of Indian coastal areas. This is clinically relevant as treatment of this condition is very simple and cost-effective.

Keywords

• albendazole
• creeping eruptions
• infants
• rains