Loiasis in sub-Saharan migrants living in Spain with emphasis of cases from Equatorial Guinea

• DOI: 10.1186/s40249-020-0627-4
• Publication Date: 2020-02-07T00:06:38Z
• Authors: Sabino Puente; German Ramírez-Ol...; Mar Lago; Mercedes Subirats; Francisco Bru; Eugenio Pérez-Bla...; Marta Arsuaga; Concepción Ladron...; Fernando de la Ca...; Belén Vicente; Montserrat Alonso...; Moncef Belhassen-...; Antonio Muro
• Keywords: Interquartile range; Tropical Medicine

Abstract Background Loiasis is an uncommon and poorly understood parasitic disease outside endemic areas of Africa. The aim this study was to describe the clinical biological patterns treatment imported loiasis by sub-Saharan migrants diagnosed in Madrid, Spain. Methods A retrospective conducted with immigrants seen at Tropical Medicine Unit Carlos III Hospital Spain, a reference center, over 19 years. Categorical variables were expressed as frequency counts percentages. Continuous mean standard deviation ( SD ) or median interquartile range (IQR: Q3–Q1). Chi-square tests used assess association between categorical variables. measured outcomes odds ratio (OR) 95% confidential interval. compared Student’s t-tests Mann-Whitney U tests. Binary logistic regression models used. P < 0.05 considered statistically significant difference. Results One hundred thirty-one from tropical subtropical identified. Forty-nine patients male (37.4%). migrants’ age (± 42.3 ± 17.3 years, 124 (94.7%) Equatorial Guinea. time (IQR) arrival Spain first consultation 2 (1–7) months. fifteen had eosinophilia, one thirteen hyper-IgE syndrome. Fifty-seven pruritus (43.5%), thirty Calabar swelling (22.9%). Seventy-three coinfections other filarial nematodes (54.2%), 58 only Loa loa infections (45.8%). two (77.9%) treated; 45.1% (46/102) treated drug, 54.9% (56/102) combined therapy. Adverse reactions described 14 (10.7%) migrants. Conclusions Our presented early manifestations few atypical features. Thus, physicians should systematically consider typical presentation. However, considering that 72.5% positive microfilaremia without any symptoms, we suggest searching for every migrant countries presenting eosinophilia.