Hospital Virtual Tour

Creeping eruption - Treatment

Alternative Names

Cutaneous larvae migrans; Ancylostoma braziliense

Treatment:

Anti-parisitic drugs (thiabendazole or albendazole) may be used to treat the infection. Ivermectin may also work.

Expectations (prognosis):

Creeping eruption may go away by itself over a period of weeks to months. Treatment helps the infection go away more quickly and is highly successful.

Complications:

Secondary skin infections caused by scratching
Spread of the infection through the bloodstream to the lungs or the small intestine (rare)

Calling your health care provider:

Make an appointment with your health care provider if you or your child have skin lesions that are snakelike, itchy, and migratory.

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.

The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. © 1997- A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.

Home > Medical Reference > Encyclopedia (English)