0521779407-22 CUNY1086/Karliner 0 521 77940 7 June 4, 2007 21:23
Visceral Larva Migrans Vitamin A Deficiency 1535Treatment Options
■No treatment is established as highly effective. Recommended
are:
➣Albendazole for 5 days
➣or: Diethlycarbamazine for 10–20 days.
➣Corticosteroids helpful in sick patients to reduce inflammatory
response.Side Effects & Complications
■Allergic reactions to medications. Some GI side effects from medi-
cations.
■Contraindications to treatment: absolute: allergy to medications
■Contraindications to treatment: relative: mild infections.follow-up
■During treatment: Monitor vital signs, general status
■Routine: follow eosinophilia, hepatomegaly. Serology stays elevated
long time and not useful in follow.complications and prognosis
■Ocular larva migrans is main complication. Usually occurs in lightly
infected children. Vision reduced, and tumor and/or edema of retina
seen. Needs to be distinguished from retinoblastoma and other
tumors, trauma, other inflammatory conditions. Treatment is with
steroids.VITAMIN A DEFICIENCY
ELISABETH RYZEN, MD
history & physical
History
■prolonged dietary deprivation of carotene-rich foods, malabsorp-
tion syndrome, celiac disease, cystic fibrosis, pancreatic disease, cir-
rhosis, kwashiorkor