Abstract:

【Abstract】 Objectives  To analyze the clinical and epidemiological characteristic of imported loaiasis in patients in Beijing. Methods  Field epidemiological study was performed pertaining to the patients’ previous activities, sources of infection and treatment as well as clinical pictures. Results  A total of 5 cases of confirmed loaiasis were reported in Beijing from 2011 to 2015. The disease was generally imported from Nigeria, Gameroon, Republic of Congo and Gabon. Increased ratio of eosinophils was seen in the five patients, in whom 3 had simple Calabar swellings, 1 had eye symptoms and skin itching, and another 1 had Calabar swellings and sense of worm migration at the conjunctiva. Conclusion  Imported disease may be increased with more international communication. Loaiasis is hard to diagnose, yet accurate diagnosis of this disease can rely on its characteristic symptoms and epidemiology.

Key words: Loaiasis, Imported filariasis, Epidemiological characteristics, Calabar swellings