Volume 11, Number 10—October 2005
Letter
Angiostrongyliasis, Mainland China
Table
Clinical characteristics of patients with angiostrongyliasis in 2 outbreaks in China*
Characteristics | Outbreak 1 (%) | Outbreak 2 (%) |
---|---|---|
No. of patients | 47 | 8 |
No. of male patients (%) | 24 (51) | 8 (100) |
Age, y | ||
Median | 32 | 12 |
Range | 6–58 | 11–13 |
Incubation (day) | ||
Median | 10.35 | 6 |
Range | 1–27 | 5–7 |
Symptoms†, no. (%) | ||
Headache | 44 (93.6) | 8 (100) |
Nuchal rigidity or neck pain | 0 | 6 (75.0) |
Fatigue | 7 (14.9) | 7 (87.5) |
Vomiting | 9 (19.1) | 8 (100) |
Paresthesias | 30 (63.8) | 3 (37.5) |
Muscle pain | 43 (91.5) | 8 (100) |
Fever | 27 (57.4) | 3 (37.5) |
Cough | 4 (8.5) | 0 |
Somnolence | 4 (8.5) | 7 (87.5) |
Skin eruption | 10 (21.3) | 0 |
Skin itch | 13 (27.7) | 0 |
Laboratory detection No. positive/no. examined (%) | ||
Eosiniphils in cerebrospinal fluid | 23/25 (92) | 8/8 (100) |
Eosinophils in blood | 23/25 (92) | 8/8 (100) |
Serologic diagnosis | 21/25 (84) | NT |
Pathogenic test | ND | 1/8‡ (12.5) |
*NT, not tested; ND, not detected.
†No patients had visual disturbance or photophobia, hyperesthesias, muscle weakness, or diarrhea.
‡Two larvae were found in cerebrospinal fluid.