Cutaneous larva migrans

One of the most common parasitic infestations affecting travellers returning from beach destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico, Brazil, and Southeast Asia.

Characterised by intensely pruritic serpiginous or linear raised erythematous tracks. Lesions occur on unprotected skin (most commonly involving the feet) that has come into contact with sandy, moist soil contaminated by dog or cat faeces containing hookworm eggs.

Diagnosis made on clinical grounds.

Although usually self-limiting, oral anthelmintic treatment speeds up resolution of symptoms and is considered curative.

Cutaneous larva migrans (CLM) is a self-limiting dermatosis caused by the migration of animal hookworm larvae (most commonly the dog hookworm Ancylostoma caninum and the cat hookworm Ancylostoma braziliense) in the skin. It is characterised by serpiginous or linear raised erythematous tracks that are usually intensely pruritic and occur on unprotected skin (most commonly involving the feet) that has come into contact with sandy, moist soil contaminated by dog or cat faeces containing hookworm eggs in areas of the tropics and subtropics.[1]Feldmeier H, Schuster A. Mini review: hookworm-related cutaneous larva migrans. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2012 Jun;31(6):915-8. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21922198?tool=bestpractice.com