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Creeping eruption

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Definition:

A creeping eruption is a skin rash caused by the movement of dog or cat hookworm larvae beneath the skin.

Alternative Names:

Cutaneous larvae migrans; Ancylostoma braziliense

Causes, incidence, and risk factors:

Creeping eruption is more common in countries with warm climates. The southeastern United States have the highest rates of infection. The main risk factor for this disease is contact with damp, sandy soil contaminated with infected cat and dog feces. It affects more children than adults.

The dog and cat hookworm eggs found in the stool of these animals will hatch, and the resulting larvae infests the soil and vegetation around the area. When you touch this infested soil, the larvae dig into the skin, causing an intense inflammatory response that leads to severe itching.

• Review Date: 11/27/2006
• Reviewed By: D. Scott Smith, M.D., MSc, DTM&H, Chief of Infectious Disease & Geographic Medicine, Kaiser Redwood City, CA & Adjunct Assistant Professor, Stanford University. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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