Cutaneous Larva Migrans

A 19-year-old male beach lifeguard from southern California presented with a 3-week asymptomatic serpiginous rash on his neck. Despite no recent international travel, clinical morphology and occupational history suggested cutaneous larva migrans. This condition typically results from skin contact with sand or soil contaminated by hookworm larvae, more often seen in international travelers but also acquired domestically in warmer U.S. regions. Unusual neck involvement in this case was attributed to the patient's habit of lying in the sand. Treatment with a 2-day course of ivermectin led to prompt resolution.

A 19-year-old male beach lifeguard from southern California presented with a 3-week asymptomatic serpiginous rash on his neck. Despite no recent international travel, clinical morphology and occupational history suggested cutaneous larva migrans. This condition typically results from skin contact with sand or soil contaminated by hookworm larvae, more often seen in international travelers but also acquired domestically in warmer U.S. regions. Unusual neck involvement in this case was attributed to the patient's habit of lying in the sand. Treatment with a 2-day course of ivermectin led to prompt resolution.