A Five-Year-Old Child with a Subcutaneous Forehead Nodule. (March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Westblade, Lars F.; Fischer, Peter U.; Haghi, Nina; Schniederjan, Matthew J.; Pritt, Bobbi S.; Long, John G.; Jerris, Robert C.; Garola, Robert E.
• Is Part Of: Pediatric and developmental pathology. Volume 18:Number 2(2015)
• Page Start: 164
• Page End: 166
• Publication Date: 2015-03
• Subjects: doxycycline -- filariasis -- ivermectin -- onchocerca -- onchocerciasis -- Wolbachia; Pediatric pathology -- Periodicals; Children -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Diagnosis, Laboratory -- Periodicals; Abnormalities, Human -- Periodicals; Child development -- Periodicals; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; 616.07
• DOI: 10.2350/14-08-1545-CR.1
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1093-5266

Abstract

We describe a case of a 5-year-old girl with onchocerciasis. The patient was recently adopted from Ethiopia and presented with a firm, raised nodule on the midportion of the forehead. Initially, Langerhans cell histiocytosis with bone involvement was suspected; however, histopathologic analysis of the excised nodule revealed the presence of a young-adult, female Onchocerca volvulus worm. This case exemplifies the importance of recognizing the key morphologic characteristics of adult O. volvulus worms isolated from pediatric patients in nonendemic areas to ensure adroit clinical management.