HAND CREEPING ERUPTION DUE TO DOG POOP PICKUP WITH PAPER TOWEL

Abstract

             Creeping eruption is a skin infection mostly caused by hookworms of dogs and cats which are common companion animals. It usually occurs appears on feet or legs from direct contact to contaminated soil or sand with classic presentation of migratory serpiginous track. The present case reported an uncommon location and transmission of hand creeping eruption that caused by picking up dog poop with paper towel. The patient is a 21-year-old Myanmese woman, a housemaid, presented with a three week of an itchy eruption and erythematous serpiginous raised tracks on her right palm. She was treated with an oral antihistamine and topical application for one week, but no improvement and the migratory tract go further. She reported her routine work was taking the dog outdoors and walking along the cement ground around the city village. She used a paper towel to pick up after her dog's poop and entrapping it in her hand for disposal. She denied to have gardening, farming, and clearing the grass. The patient was treated with oral albendazole 400 mg once daily for one week and symptoms including pruritus diminished within 2 days. The lesion showed healing signs over initial lesion with desquamation and hyperpigmentation 2 week after treatment. No further relapses occurred during the 2-months follow-up visit. This is the first report of hand creeping eruption from using paper towel to pick up dog poop without wearing disposable gloves.