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Creeping eruption - Symptom

Alternative Names

Cutaneous larvae migrans; Ancylostoma braziliense

Symptoms:

Blisters
Itching, may be more severe at night
Raised, snakelike tracks in the skin that may spread over time, usually about 1cm per day (severe infections may cause several tracks)

Signs and tests:

Your health care provider will usually diagnose this condition by looking at your skin. Rarely, a skin biopsy may be done to rule out other conditions.

Hookworm - mouth of the organism

Hookworm - close-up of the organism

Hookworm - Ancyclostoma caninum

Cutaneous larva migrans

Strongyloidiasis, creeping eruption on the back

Reviewed last on: 12/3/2008
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Jatin M. Vyas, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor in Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Assistant in Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

References

Kazura JW. Nematode infections. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 378.

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