Nephrotic syndrome in a child infected with Toxocara canis

Toxocara canis is a common worldwide dog ascarid, and is acquired by ingestion of the parasitic eggs, which are shed in the feces of infected dogs. The clinical presentation, visceral larva migrans, is usually a disease of children, typically characterized by fever, hepatomegaly, pulmonary manifestations, leukocytosis, peristent eosinophilia, and hypergammaglobulinemia. The clinical course is usually benign and self-limited . Renal involvement with T canis infection is very unusual. This case report describes nephrotic syndrome (NS) in a 7-year-old boy coincident with a Toxocara canis infection. This rare association was confirmed by elevated Toxocara-specific IgM titers. Treatment with corticosteroids resulted in remission of his renal symptoms as well as abatement of T canis infection. The relationship between T canis infection and glomerular disease is still unclear. NS may represent another manifestation of T canis infection.