Article Category:
Research Article

Imported Cutaneous Larva Migrans: Epidemiological, Clinical, and Therapeutic Aspects Analyzed in a Referral Tropical Medicine Unit in Barcelona

David López-Neila International Health Unit Vall d’Hebron-Drassanes,Department of Infectious Diseases, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain;

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Fernando Salvador International Health Unit Vall d’Hebron-Drassanes,Department of Infectious Diseases, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain;
Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain

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Joan Martínez-Campreciós International Health Unit Vall d’Hebron-Drassanes,Department of Infectious Diseases, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain;
Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain

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María Luisa Aznar International Health Unit Vall d’Hebron-Drassanes,Department of Infectious Diseases, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain;
Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain

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Juan Espinosa-Pereiro International Health Unit Vall d’Hebron-Drassanes,Department of Infectious Diseases, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain;

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Inés Oliveira-Souto International Health Unit Vall d’Hebron-Drassanes,Department of Infectious Diseases, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain;
Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain

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Pau Bosch-Nicolau International Health Unit Vall d’Hebron-Drassanes,Department of Infectious Diseases, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain;
Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain

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Diana Pou International Health Unit Vall d’Hebron-Drassanes,Department of Infectious Diseases, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain;
Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain

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Adrián Sánchez-Montalvá International Health Unit Vall d’Hebron-Drassanes,Department of Infectious Diseases, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain;
Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain

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Núria Serre-Delcor International Health Unit Vall d’Hebron-Drassanes,Department of Infectious Diseases, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain;
Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain

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Begoña Treviño International Health Unit Vall d’Hebron-Drassanes,Department of Infectious Diseases, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain;
Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain

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Israel Molina International Health Unit Vall d’Hebron-Drassanes,Department of Infectious Diseases, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain;
Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.24-0856
Volume/Issue:
Ahead of Print
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Cutaneous larva migrans (CLM) is a clinical syndrome typically found in tropical and subtropical regions. The objective of the study is to describe the epidemiological, clinical, and therapeutic characteristics of patients with CLM acquired during international travel. This retrospective observational study analyzes CLM cases treated at an international health unit in Spain. Sociodemographic, clinical, laboratory, and treatment-related data were collected. Overall, 107 cases were diagnosed, 63 (58.9%) of them in women, with a mean age of 32.6 years. Most frequent geographic regions of CLM acquisition were Southeast Asia (38 cases, 35.5%) and South America (28, 26.2%). Patients had a median of one skin lesion (range 1–11) located mainly in the lower extremities (83, 77.6%). Treatment was administered in 105 cases (98.1%), with albendazole used in 88 (83.8%), ivermectin in nine (8.6%), mebendazole in six (5.7%), and two cases lacking drug information (1.9%). Among treated cases, clinical resolution was achieved in 88 (83.8%) patients. Symptoms persisted in 17 (16.2%) cases, and recurrence was observed in 14 (13.3%) cases. A total of 26 (24.8%) patients required re-treatment with either albendazole or ivermectin (61.5% and 38.5%, respectively). The resolution rates for ivermectin, albendazole, and mebendazole were 88.9%, 88.6%, and 0.0%, respectively. CLM is a common syndrome in certain geographic regions and is more frequently diagnosed in international travelers. A thorough epidemiological assessment, along with a detailed medical history and physical examination, facilitates early diagnosis and treatment. Currently, ivermectin and albendazole appear to achieve the highest cure rates with lower recurrence rates.

Author Notes

Financial support: This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or nonprofit sectors.

Disclosure: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Current contact information: David López-Neila, Fernando Salvador, Joan Martínez-Campreciós, M. Luisa Aznar, Juan Espinosa-Pereiro, Inés Oliveira-Souto, Pau Bosch-Nicolau, Diana Pou, Adrián Sánchez-Montalvá, Núria Serre-Delcor, Begoña Treviño, and Israel Molina, International Health Unit Vall d’Hebron-Drassanes, Department of Infectious Diseases, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, PROSICS Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain. E-mails: deividln94@gmail.com, fernando.salvador@vallhebron.cat, jmc3689@gmail.com, maznarru@gmail.com, macspinosa@gmail.com, ines.oliveira@vallhebron.cat, pau.bosch@vallhebron.cat, diana.pou@vallhebron.cat, adrian.sanchez@vallhebron.cat, nuria.serre@vallhebron.cat, begona.trevino@vallhebron.cat, and Israel.molina@vallhebron.cat.

Address correspondence to Fernando Salvador, Department of Infectious Diseases, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital, P° Vall d’Hebron 119-129, Barcelona 08035, Spain. E-mail: fernando.salvador@vallhebron.cat
Copyright:
© American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 2025
Received:
23 Dec 2024
|
Accepted:
12 Feb 2025
|
Published Online:
06 May 2025
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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