Asian Journal of Medical Research and Case Reports

Cutaneous larva migrans are serpiginous erupting skin lesions infected by hookworm larvae, usually acquired in tropical and subtropical countries. Humans are usually infected with the larvae of the hookworm by walking barefoot on moist soft soil that had been contaminated with animal faeces. The usual sites of infection are distal extremities or buttocks. We report a case of 52-year-old Indonesian male who was infected with cutaneous larva migrans on the right hand after going for squirrel hunting in the nearby woods 3 days prior. He was initially misdiagnosed with typical bacterial skin infection and treated with antihistamines and antibiotic topical cream for 5 days with no significant improvement. Upon re-examination, the patient was diagnosed with cutaneous larva migrans and was successfully treated at our health clinic. It is important to be aware of the patient’s skin presentation, as earlier detection leads to good prognosis and reduced morbidity. Basic preventive efforts such as wearing slippers, deworming of pets and avoid sitting or lying on wet soil/sand are crucial in preventing the occurrence of this disease. To the best of our knowledge, this is a rare case reported in Kuang district, Selangor, Malaysia.