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Does Toxocariasis Cause Vision Loss In One Eye?
Question: Hello
I was reading about toxocariasis
And i have some questions
1. In some case when treatment is needed for Visceral toxocariasis (like parasite pneumonia, neurologic) antiparasitic drugs are used but in some cases they don’t work and as it is said in literature in more sever cases Corticosteroids are used.
The question is despite in some case antiparasitic drugs don’t work corticosteroids may be used – and mortality is low from toxocariasis, as it is said that mortality from toxocariasis is very rare
2. Very rare Ocular toxocariasis could be bilateral – but vision is affected only in one eye as it is said in all literatu – is it so ?
Thank you
I was reading about toxocariasis
And i have some questions
1. In some case when treatment is needed for Visceral toxocariasis (like parasite pneumonia, neurologic) antiparasitic drugs are used but in some cases they don’t work and as it is said in literature in more sever cases Corticosteroids are used.
The question is despite in some case antiparasitic drugs don’t work corticosteroids may be used – and mortality is low from toxocariasis, as it is said that mortality from toxocariasis is very rare
2. Very rare Ocular toxocariasis could be bilateral – but vision is affected only in one eye as it is said in all literatu – is it so ?
Thank you
Brief Answer:
Corticosteroids are used to suppress immune response.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I can understand your concern.
Sorry for late reply as I was busy in OPD.
Answer to your 1st question.
First line treatment is ofcourse albendazole. But corticosteroids are usually given to suppress immune response caused by tissue invasion by larvae. This will also help in reducing structural damage to various areas of eye.
Answer to your 2nd question.
Yes, it is true. Ocular toxocariasis is almost always Unilateral. The reason is unknown but it is true.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Corticosteroids are used to suppress immune response.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I can understand your concern.
Sorry for late reply as I was busy in OPD.
Answer to your 1st question.
First line treatment is ofcourse albendazole. But corticosteroids are usually given to suppress immune response caused by tissue invasion by larvae. This will also help in reducing structural damage to various areas of eye.
Answer to your 2nd question.
Yes, it is true. Ocular toxocariasis is almost always Unilateral. The reason is unknown but it is true.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
Thank you for your answer !
1. The first question is different
There have been cases with Visceral toxocariasis that cause pneumonia and neurologic problems .
That must be treated and as you said treatment options is
a) antiparasitic drugs + combination with anti-inflammatory medications
b) severe cases of VLM – Corticosteroids only
During treatment Visceral toxocariasis with antiparasitic drugs the effectiveness’ is about - Albendazole represented a 78.0% efficacy rate
Effectiveness’ was measured by ELISA results
But there was no mortality in these cases – it prove that drugs still helps
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0000
The question is despite of Albendazole treating Visceral toxocariasis, and neurologic efectinvness with ELISA test is not 100 % - mortality is very low only in very severe cases
It prove that this treatment is effective despite Albendazole is not 100 % effective it gives effectiveness + treating with anti-inflammatory medications. And mortality from toxocariasis is very low only in severe cases.
2. Second question – if Ocular toxocariasis could be bilateral very rear does it affect vision in both eyes , or only still one eye ?
1. The first question is different
There have been cases with Visceral toxocariasis that cause pneumonia and neurologic problems .
That must be treated and as you said treatment options is
a) antiparasitic drugs + combination with anti-inflammatory medications
b) severe cases of VLM – Corticosteroids only
During treatment Visceral toxocariasis with antiparasitic drugs the effectiveness’ is about - Albendazole represented a 78.0% efficacy rate
Effectiveness’ was measured by ELISA results
But there was no mortality in these cases – it prove that drugs still helps
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0000
The question is despite of Albendazole treating Visceral toxocariasis, and neurologic efectinvness with ELISA test is not 100 % - mortality is very low only in very severe cases
It prove that this treatment is effective despite Albendazole is not 100 % effective it gives effectiveness + treating with anti-inflammatory medications. And mortality from toxocariasis is very low only in severe cases.
2. Second question – if Ocular toxocariasis could be bilateral very rear does it affect vision in both eyes , or only still one eye ?
Brief Answer:
As a doctor we should also see for morbidity not only mortality.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I can understand your concern.
Sorry for late reply as I was busy in OPD.
Answer to your 1st question.
There is another term called Morbidity. As a doctors we should also seen for morbidity and not only mortality.
Yes, you are right that mortality is very very less in visceral toxocariasis. But what about morbidity? Morbidity is reduced by giving corticosteroid along with albendazole.
For example, assume a case of ocular toxocariasis with initial stage of retinal detachment and vitreous heamorrhage. If you give this patient nothing (no albendazole no corticosteroid), he will not die but his vision willingly definitely lost. So morbidity is very high.
If you are give him albendazole and corticosteroid, rate of retinal detachment and vitreous haemorrhage will decline and hence morbidity is also reduced. Also in this scenario mortality is very very less.
Hope I made my point clear.
Answer to your 2nd question.
If ocular toxocariasis is bilateral it would definitely affect vision of both eyes.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
As a doctor we should also see for morbidity not only mortality.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I can understand your concern.
Sorry for late reply as I was busy in OPD.
Answer to your 1st question.
There is another term called Morbidity. As a doctors we should also seen for morbidity and not only mortality.
Yes, you are right that mortality is very very less in visceral toxocariasis. But what about morbidity? Morbidity is reduced by giving corticosteroid along with albendazole.
For example, assume a case of ocular toxocariasis with initial stage of retinal detachment and vitreous heamorrhage. If you give this patient nothing (no albendazole no corticosteroid), he will not die but his vision willingly definitely lost. So morbidity is very high.
If you are give him albendazole and corticosteroid, rate of retinal detachment and vitreous haemorrhage will decline and hence morbidity is also reduced. Also in this scenario mortality is very very less.
Hope I made my point clear.
Answer to your 2nd question.
If ocular toxocariasis is bilateral it would definitely affect vision of both eyes.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Thank you
I have a question if in treating visceral toxocariasis with albendazole + steroids the same time the risk of strongyloides hyperinfection is very low ?
In case of steroids and asymptomatic strongyloides there is risk of strongyloides hyperinfection
Because albendazole is a drug to treat strongyloides !
It should be logic !
Is it so ?
I have a question if in treating visceral toxocariasis with albendazole + steroids the same time the risk of strongyloides hyperinfection is very low ?
In case of steroids and asymptomatic strongyloides there is risk of strongyloides hyperinfection
Because albendazole is a drug to treat strongyloides !
It should be logic !
Is it so ?
Brief Answer:
Yes, you are right.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I can understand your concern.
Yes, you are right.
If patient is taking corticosteroids, he/she is at increased risk of almost all infections like bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic etc.
So any asymptomatic, dormant infection can flare up if patient is on systemic corticosteroid for longer duration.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Yes, you are right.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I can understand your concern.
Yes, you are right.
If patient is taking corticosteroids, he/she is at increased risk of almost all infections like bacterial, viral, fungal, parasitic etc.
So any asymptomatic, dormant infection can flare up if patient is on systemic corticosteroid for longer duration.
Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
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