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Larva migrans cutânea

Last reviewed: 24 Sep 2025
Last updated: 31 Aug 2023

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • viagem recente aos trópicos ou subtrópicos
  • banhistas descalços/que tomam banho de sol
  • rastro eritematoso elevado e serpiginoso
  • prurido intenso
Full details

Other diagnostic factors

  • lesões vesiculobolhosas ou papulares
  • foliculite
Full details

Risk factors

  • residência ou viagem recente para uma área endêmica
  • andar descalço e/ou tomar banho de sol em praia contaminada
Full details

Diagnostic investigations

1st investigations to order

  • nenhum exame é necessário: o diagnóstico é clínico.
Full details

Investigations to consider

  • raspagem/biópsia de pele
Full details

Emerging tests

  • microscopia de epiluminescência

Treatment algorithm

ACUTE

adultos não gestantes e crianças

gestante

ONGOING

sem resposta ao tratamento inicial ou recidiva dos sintomas

Contributors

Authors

David J. Diemert, MD, FRCP(C)
David J. Diemert

Professor

Departments of Medicine and Microbiology, Immunology and Tropical Medicine

The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences

Washington

DC

Disclosures

DJD declares that he has no competing interests.

Peer reviewers

Eric Caumes, MD

Professor of Infectious and Tropical Diseases

Universite Pierre et Marie Curie

Vice Chairman

Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases

Hopital Pitie-Salpetriere

Paris

France

Disclosures

EC is an author of a number of references cited in this topic.

Jorg Heukelbach, MD, PhD

Professor

Department of Community Health

School of Medicine

Federal University of Ceara

Ceara

Brazil

Disclosures

JH is an author of a number of references cited in this topic.

Jill Weatherhead, MD, PhD, CTropMed

Assistant Professor of Pediatric Tropical Medicine

Baylor College of Medicine

Houston

TX

Disclosures

JW declares that she has no competing interests.

Peer reviewer acknowledgements

BMJ Best Practice topics are updated on a rolling basis in line with developments in evidence and guidance. The peer reviewers listed here have reviewed the content at least once during the history of the topic.

Disclosures

Peer reviewer affiliations and disclosures pertain to the time of the review.

References

Our in-house evidence and editorial teams collaborate with international expert contributors and peer reviewers to ensure that we provide access to the most clinically relevant information possible.

Key articles

Feldmeier H, Schuster A. Mini review: hookworm-related cutaneous larva migrans. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2012 Jun;31(6):915-8. Abstract

Tremblay A, MacLean JD, Gyorkos T, et al. Outbreak of cutaneous larva migrans in a group of travellers. Trop Med Int Health. 2000 May;5(5):330-34.Full text  Abstract

Davies HD, Sakuls P, Keystone JS. Creeping eruption. A review of clinical presentation and management of 60 cases presenting to a tropical disease unit. Arch Dermatol. 1993 May;129(5):588-91. Abstract

Reichert F, Pilger D, Schuster A, et al. Epidemiology and morbidity of hookworm-related cutaneous larva migrans (HrCLM): Results of a cohort study over a period of six months in a resource-poor community in Manaus, Brazil. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2018 Jul 19;12(7):e0006662.Full text  Abstract

Heukelbach J, Feldmeier H. Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of hookworm-related cutaneous larva migrans. Lancet Infect Dis. 2008 May;8(5):302-9. Abstract

Blackwell V, Vega-Lopez F. Cutaneous larva migrans: clinical features and management of 44 cases presenting in the returning traveller. Br J Dermatol. 2001 Sep;145(3):434-7. Abstract

Caumes E, Carrière J, Datry A, et al. A randomized trial of ivermectin versus albendazole for the treatment of cutaneous larva migrans. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 1993 Nov;49(5):641-4. Abstract

Reference articles

A full list of sources referenced in this topic is available to users with access to all of BMJ Best Practice.

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