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The helminthic infections that can cause eosinophilic meningitis (EM) share many of the characteristics of emerging infectious diseases, such as the influences of international trade and travel on pathogen dissemination in a warming ecosystem. In order to assess the evolving epidemiology of EM worldwide, define the case diagnosis of EM based on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) microscopy, and stratify the causes of EM as infectious versus noninfectious; this review analyzes scientific articles selected by MEDLINE search, 1966-2009. In addition, this review compares the clinical manifestations, management, and outcomes of the most common causes of helminthic EM worldwide in order to alert clinicians to populations at increased risk of helminthic EM as a result of age, ethnicity, lifestyle, food choices, location of permanent residence, or recent travel. The most common helminthic causes of EM worldwide are angiostrongyliasis and gnathostomiasis. Angiostrongyliasis, a rodent zoonosis endemic in Southeast Asia, was imported to North and South America and the Caribbean following the embarkation of infected rodents from cargo ships. Gnathostomiasis, a zoonosis of wild carnivores in Southeast Asia and Latin America, has been recently recognized as an emerging cause of EM in travelers returning to England and the United States (US). Baylisascariasis, a North American raccoon zoonosis, is an additional, although unusual, emerging cause of EM, that has extended distribution range across the US since the 1980s, and was exported to Japan by the exotic pet trade. Although EM occurs worldwide, its differential diagnosis is limited to infectious and non-infectious etiologies with non-infectious etiologies, such as intracranial hardware and malignancies, causing more cases, especially in regions that are not endemic for the most common causative parasites. Most cases of helminthic EM can be prevented by public health education, human behavior modification, and proper food preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Eosinophilic meningitis can be the result of noninfectious causes and infectious agents. Among the infectious agents, Angiostrongylus cantonensis and Gnathostoma spinigerum are the most common. Although angiostrongyliasis and gnathostomiasis are not common in the United States, international travel and immigration make these diseases clinically relevant. Both A. cantonensis and G. spinigerum infection can present as severe CNS compromise. Diagnoses of both infections can be challenging and are often clinical because of a paucity of serological assays readily available in the United States. Furthermore, there are conflicting recommendations about treatment for angiostrongyliasis and gnathostomiasis. To further explore the emerging nature of these helminthic infections, a case description and review of A. cantonensis and G. spinigerum infections are presented. The clinical severity of eosinophilic meningitis and diagnosis of these infections are highlighted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This section offers medical-related news briefs in the U.S. as of June 11, 2014. A study found that swamp eels found in ethnic food markets in the U.S. may be a source of the foodborne illness gnathostomiasis. Results of a study show that outreach testing with rapid hepatitis C virus (HCV) kits can detect many active infections. A report show a decline in teen birth rate in 2012.