Neurognathostomiasis - a neglected parasitosis of the central nervous systemArchived
This review summarises the clinical features, diagnosis and treatment of gnathostomiasis and highlights the rare but important different neurological syndromes that can occur as a consequence of migration of the worm within the CNS.
Katchanov J, Sawanyawisuth K, Chotmongkol V, Nawa Y.Emerg Infect Dis 2011 Jul;17(7):1174-80. This review summarises the clinical features, diagnosis and treatment of gnathostomiasis and highlights the rare but important different neurological syndromes that can occur as a consequence of migration of the worm within the CNS. These range from a radiculitis to a meningoencephalities and sub-arachnoid haemorrhage: different syndromes can be seen in the same patient as the worm migrates causing mechanical damage. The article reviews all English literature reports of gnathostomiasis and highlights suggestive diagnostic features and findings on imaging and laboratory tests.
ECDC comment: Although there are only a small number of published case reports of gnathostomiasis in European travellers, cases are seen intermittently in returning travellers who have had the classical exposure to eating raw fish, frogs or snails or chicken and these patients are at risk of neurognathostomiasis. The diagnosis should be considered in anyone with eosinophilic radiculomyelitis, myeloencaphalitis or meningoencephalitis and a history of travel to endemic areas.