TOXOCARIASIS: CLINICAL AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL FEATURES
The clinical and epidemiological features of toxocariasis in 80 ambulatory patients, including 20 children and 60 adults were studied. 19% of the patients had close contact with domestic animals, 52% of the patients had contact with animals and soil, 20% of the patients (children under 15 years, violating the rules of personal hygiene) had contact with animals, 9% of the patients denied any history of contact with animals. Neurological manifestations, allergic reactions, anemia, lymphadenopathy, leukocytosis, and eosinophilia were predominant in children. Recurrent fever, pulmonary syndrome, radiological signs of pulmonary impairment, hepatomegaly, and acceleration of erythrocyte sedimentation rate were predominant in adults. The highest infection rate was in individuals who had contact with animals and soil. The most prominent clinical manifestations were observed in patients with high titers of antibodies (equal or higher 1:1600) accompanied by significant blood changes and polymorphism of clinical manifestations.