Eye toxocariasis is one of the forms of human invasion by nematodes of the genus Toxocara canis. Their main owner is the animals from the dog family. They have a parasite that develops to a mature individual, and in humans can live only in the larval stage, affecting the vital organs. In the case when the place of their localization is the organ of vision, and this form of the disease arises. It is characterized by the fact that larvae of toxocara affect the human eye. With this type of disease, the number of them is limited to 1-2 individuals, but, despite their small numbers, they bring a very large harm. Due to their localization in the organ of vision, a person develops such pathologies as:
- Strabismus, which suddenly developed in one of the organs of vision;
- Uveitis, inflammation of the choroid, often penetrating into the middle layers of the tissue;
- Granuloma, proliferation of cells of the orbit, provoked by encapsulation of larvae toxocar;
- Endophthalmitis, purulent inflammation.
- Abscess in the vitreous body.
Often, patients diagnosed with eye toxocarias are interested in the development of this form of helminthiosis. According to experts, the disease occurs in the case when human infection occurs a minimum number of larvae of parasites, but there is no precise answer to this question today. Likewise, there are no reliable methods for diagnosing eye toxocarosis, since the immune response to invasion does not have a vivid expression, and the titers of antibodies to helminth antigens are low for this misfortune. In most cases, it can only be detected by histological examination.
All cases of this form of toxocarias are divided by specialists into 2 groups - chronic endophthalmitis with exudation and solitary granulomas. With the development of this disease, almost always only one eye is damaged by 1-2 larvae. In some cases, they are found during an ophthalmic examination. When in the vitreous body, as follows from the description of pathology in medical reference books, they have the form of "snowballs".But it also happens that during the intra-retinal migration of the larva the specialist can notice her movement. In this case, the patient has blind spots in his field of vision.
The disease can have a latent course for many years, manifesting itself with only a common symptom of this infestation. Most often there is such a symptom of eye toxocarias as an elevated body temperature of unknown origin. In the same case, when the disease takes an acute form, it has specific symptoms. These are reddening of the cornea, purulent discharge and painful sensations. All of them can be seen in photographs in medical reference books. In the photo above, a toxo-eye is shown in an adult. If, when such clinical signs appear, do not take emergency measures and start appropriate treatment, the patient may be blinded by one eye.
Treatment of eye toxocariasis in adults
In therapeutic measures aimed at destroying the larvae of these helminths that have settled in the organ of vision, the same group of antinematode drugs is used as in other forms of this invasion. The main place is occupied by Ditrazine( Diethylcarbamazine), Mintezol( Tiabendazole) and Vermox( Mebendazole).The problem of complete cure with their help from toxocara in the eyes is that they destroy only the encapsulated larvae without causing any damage to the migratory. In addition, all these drugs are toxic enough, so long-term treatment with them should be carried out only under the supervision of a specialist. It is required during therapy of the given misfortune and therapeutic assistance of the ophthalmologist. It consists of the following:
- Important place in getting rid of the eye form of toxocarias is given to corticosteroids. They give astounding results and completely remove the inflammation of the organ of vision, provoked by the vital activity of the larvae of parasites in it;
- With an easy form of pathology, eye drops and ointments used simultaneously with antinematode agents have proven themselves well;
- In severe cases of this form of toxocarosis in adults, specialists prescribe subtenon and subconjunctival injections;
- It is used by specialists in the treatment of eye toxocariasis and vitrectomy, which helps prevent most of the serious complications and save the eye;
- In some cases, when it comes to the retinal detachment provoked by parasites, doctors prefer to conduct an operative intervention. Although surgical operation can cause side effects and a decrease in vision, they are preferable to complete blindness resulting from the progressive course of eye toxocariasis.