Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases and Medical Microbiology (Jan 2009)

A Child with Raccoon Roundworm Meningoencephalitis: A Pathogen Emerging in your Own Backyard?

  • Jan Hajek,
  • Yvonne Yau,
  • Peter Kertes,
  • Teesta Soman,
  • Suzanne Laughlin,
  • Ronik Kanani,
  • Kevin Kazacos,
  • Sriveny Dangoudoubiyam,
  • Mary Anne Opavsky

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1155/2009/304625
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 20, no. 4
pp. e177 – e180

Abstract

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Raccoon roundworm (Baylisascaris procyonis) is a cause of devastating neural and ocular disease. The first documented case of raccoon roundworm encephalitis in Canada, in a seven-year-old boy who presented with severe neurological impairment, is presented. His significant recovery illustrates the importance of clinical suspicion and the benefit of early treatment.