Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Gnathostomiasis
Introduction
Gnathostomiasis is the human infection by the nematode (roundworm) Gnathostoma spinigerum and/or Gnathostoma hispidum, which infects vertebrate animals. Specifically, the disease is due to migrating immature worms.
Symptoms
Symptoms
Migration in the subcutaneous tissues (under the skin) causes intermittent, migratory, painful, pruritic swellings (cutaneous larva migrans). Migration to other tissues (visceral larva migrans), can result in cough, hematuria, ocular (eye) involvement, meningitis, encephalitis and eosinophilia.
Laboratory Diagnosis
Laboratory Diagnosis
Diagnosis of gnathostomiasis is possible (with microscopy) after removal of the worm.