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Creeping eruption

Alternative Names:

Cutaneous larvae migrans; Ancylostoma braziliense

Treatment:

Thiabendazole or albendazole (anti-parasitic agents) may be used to treat the infection. Ivermectin may also work.

Expectations (prognosis):

Creeping eruption may clear on its own over a period of weeks to months. Treatment helps the infection go away faster and is highly successful.

Complications:

Secondary skin infections caused by scratching
Spread 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

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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