Clinical and Laboratory Findings among Patients with Toxocaria-sis in Medic Medical Center, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam in 2017-2019

Le Dinh  Vinh Phuc; Cao Ba  Loi; Huynh Hong  Quang; Le Duc  Vinh; Cao Truong Sinh; Vu Van  Du; Que Anh  Tram; Khong Minh  Quang; Tang Xuan  Hai; Tran-Anh  Le

doi:10.18502/ijpa.v16i4.7864

Le Dinh Vinh Phuc Medic Medical Center, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Cao Ba Loi Scientific and Training Management Department, National Institute of Malaria, Parasitology and Entomology of Vi-etnam, Ha Noi, Vietnam
Huynh Hong Quang Institute of Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology Quy Nhon, Binh Dinh, Vietnam
Le Duc Vinh Medical Parasitology Unit, Department of Fundamental Sciences and Basic Medical Sciences, The University of Medicine Pham Ngoc Thach, Infectious E Department, Hospital for Tropical Disease, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Cao Truong Sinh Vinh Medical University, Vinh, Nghe An, Vietnam
Vu Van Du National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ha Noi, Vietnam
Que Anh Tram Department of Tropical Diseases, Vinh Hospital of Friendship General, Vinh, Nghe An, Vietnam
Khong Minh Quang National Hospital for Tropical Disease, Ha Noi, Vietnam
Tang Xuan Hai Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Nghe An Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital, Vinh, Nghe An, Vietnam
Tran-Anh Le Department of Parasitology, Vietnam Military Medical University, Ha Noi, Vietnam

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijpa.v16i4.7864

Keywords: Toxocariasis; Clinical characteristics; Eosinophilia; IgE concentration; Vietnam

Abstract

Background: Human toxocariasis is prevalent in many countries but this disease has been rarely reported from Vietnam. We aimed to investigate the clinical and laboratory findings and assess possible association between these findings in patients with toxocariasis in Vietnam.

Methods: A prospectively study, between October 2017 and June 2019 was performed involving 120 toxocariasis patients at Medic Medical Center, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The diagnosis of toxocariasis was established based on clinical, laboratory (eosinophilia, raised IgE concentration) and serological (positive Toxocara IgG ELISA test) evaluation as well as the exclusion of other helminthic coinfection.

Results: The most frequently reported manifestation was of skin (n = 93, 77.5%), including urticarial (n= 69, 57.5%) followed by neurologic, gastrointestinal and pulmonary signs/symptoms. Hepatic involvement occurred in 8.3% of the patients. No significant relationship between clinical findings and laboratory parameters was found except the higher values of eosinophil count and IgE concentration among patients with liver involvement. There was a significant relationship between eosinophil count and IgE concentration (r=0.389, P<0.001). Serological findings did not show a correlation with clinical and other laboratory findings.

Conclusion: Our data revealed a wide range of clinical symptoms/signs and a high incidence of skin manifestations in patients with toxocariasis. Eosinophil count and IgE concentration are valuable markers for the evaluation of the disease.