Microbiology
The dog and cat tapeworm.
Epidemiologic Risks
Lying in cat poo or dog poo on a beach where they (the dog and cat, not the human) have used the sand as a toilet. Common in the Caribbean.
Mostly found in subtropical regions. Endemic in the southern US.
It is creeping north with climate change (Pubmed) and now in Europe (Pubmed).
Syndromes
Cutaneous larva migrans aka creeping eruption aka ground itch. As humans are not the definitive hosts, the organisms wander around the skin, causing pruritis until it gives up and dies.
There is also an atypical bullous form "characterized by single or multiple blisters, round or oval in shape, of different size, with a clear serous fluid. Some tracks were also visible. All patients complained of pruritus (Pubmed)."
Treatment
Ivermectin 200 mcg/kg po as a single dose, one review calls it the treatment of choice (Pubmed)
Topical thiabendazole 10% qid OR 500 mg po qid after meals for 5 days. So I guess you have to eat 4 meals a day on this medication.
Notes
It is self-limited although it takes 1 - 2 months for the worm to die.
Last update: 12/25/19