Approximately 5% of the U.S. population has antibodies to Toxocara. This suggests that tens of millions of Americans may have been exposed to the Toxocara parasite.
How many people are infected with toxocariasis?
In humans, it has been found that 5% of the U.S. population has been infected with Toxocara. Globally, toxocariasis is found in many countries, and prevalence rates can reach as high as 40% or more in parts of the world.
Does toxocariasis go away?
How Is Toxocariasis Treated? A child with mild symptoms might not need treatment because the infection will go away on its own when the larvae die. Kids with symptoms that affect the lungs, eye, or other important organs may be treated with anti-parasite drugs that will kill the larvae.
How common is toxocariasis in the UK?
There are about 120 recorded cases per year in the UK, very few of which are serious. However, even one case is one too many and with basic hygiene practices and regular worming of dogs and cats the disease is easily preventable.
How do humans get toxocariasis?
Human toxocariasis is a helminthozoonosis due to the migration of Toxocara species larvae through human organism. Humans become infected by ingesting either embryonated eggs from soil (geophagia, pica), dirty hands or raw vegetables, or larvae from undercooked giblets.
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