An unusual intraocular tongue worm in anterior chamber: a case report

Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 2011 Dec;19(6):442-3. doi: 10.3109/09273948.2011.621579.

Abstract

Purpose: To present an interesting case of intraocular Linguatula serrata in a 5-year-old boy.

Design: Case report.

Methods: Visual acuity testing, biomicroscopic slit-lamp examination, and indirect ophthalmoscopy were performed on a 5-year-old boy with a progressively enlarging white lesion in the anterior chamber of the right eye.

Results: The worm was found in the anterior chamber, attached firmly to the peripheral iris with free-floating tail. The living worm, which grew progressively over 2 months, caused a mild anterior chamber reaction with marginally raised intraocular pressure. The worm was removed surgically in toto. This is the first documentation of human ocular pentastomiasis in India.

Conclusions: An adult worm in the anterior chamber is apparently rare and can present even with a quiet eye. Surgical removal is essential. However, visual prognosis is good.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anterior Chamber / parasitology*
  • Anterior Chamber / surgery
  • Child, Preschool
  • Eye Infections, Parasitic / diagnosis*
  • Eye Infections, Parasitic / parasitology*
  • Eye Infections, Parasitic / surgery
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pentastomida*
  • Prognosis
  • Treatment Outcome