Assessment of U.S. Pediatrician Knowledge of Toxocariasis

Dana M. Woodhall Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia;

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Amanda P. Garcia Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia;

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Craig A. Shapiro Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia;
Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia;

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Shequenta L. Wray Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia;

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Andi L. Shane Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia;
Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia;

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Chitra S. Mani Georgia Regents Medical Center, Augusta, Georgia;

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Kelly K. Stimpert Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia;
IHRC Inc., Atlanta, Georgia

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LeAnne M. Fox Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia;

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Susan P. Montgomery Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia;

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.17-0232
Volume/Issue:
Volume 97: Issue 4
Page(s):
1243–1246
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Toxocariasis, one of a group of parasitic diseases known as neglected parasitic infections, is a disease caused by the larvae of two species of Toxocara roundworms, Toxocara canis, from dogs, and less commonly Toxocara cati, from cats. Although most infected individuals are asymptomatic, clinical manifestations may include fever, fatigue, coughing, wheezing, or abdominal pain (visceral toxocariasis) or vision loss, retina damage, or eye inflammation (ocular toxocariasis). To assess U.S. pediatrician knowledge of toxocariasis, we conducted an electronic survey of American Academy of Pediatrics members. Of the 2,684 respondents, 1,120 (47%) pediatricians correctly selected toxocariasis as the diagnosis in an unknown case presentation with findings typical for toxocariasis; overall 1,695 (85%) stated they were not confident that their knowledge of toxocariasis was current. This knowledge gap suggests a need for improved toxocariasis awareness and education for U.S. pediatricians, especially those caring for children at risk for infection.

Author Notes

Address correspondence to Susan P. Montgomery, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Road, MS A-06, Atlanta, GA 30333. E-mail: zqu6@cdc.gov

Authors’ addresses: Dana M. Woodhall, Amanda P. Garcia, Shequenta L. Wray, Kelly K. Stimpert, LeAnne M. Fox, and Susan P. Montgomery, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, E-mails: danawoodhall@yahoo.com, apburke3@gmail.com, shequentawray@gmail.com, hen5@cdc.gov, lff4@cdc.gov, and zqu6@cdc.gov. Craig A. Shapiro and Andi L. Shane, Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, and Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Inc., Atlanta, GA, E-mails: cshapi2@emory.edu and ashane@emory.edu. Chitra S. Mani, Department of Pediatrics, Augusta University Medical Center, Augusta, GA, E-mail: cmani@gru.edu.

Copyright:
© The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 2017
Received:
22 Mar 2017
|
Accepted:
04 Jun 2017
|
Published Online:
31 Jul 2017
Cover The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Print ISSN:
0002-9637
Online ISSN:
1476-1645
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