Epidemiology

Almost all cases of CLM diagnosed in the US occur in tourists who have recently returned from a vacation at a beach destination in the tropics or subtropics, especially the Caribbean, Brazil, Mexico, and Southeast Asia.[4]​​[6]​ It represents one of the most common parasitic infestations in returning travelers.[4]​​[7][8]​ Occasionally, autochthonous cases have been reported in the US, usually from southeastern coastal states such as Florida and South Carolina.[9][10][11]​ Most cases in the US occur in adults, although younger age groups are also affected.[3] Incidence of CLM is more common in the rainy season, because eggs and larvae survive longer in wet than in dry soil or sand, and disease in dogs and cats is elevated.[12]​ Climate change and rising global temperatures have been associated with increased incidence of CLM.[13]

Endemic disease is found throughout tropical coastal regions of the world, especially in the poor communities of South America (particularly Brazil), the Indian subcontinent, and the Caribbean.[14][15][16][17] In these regions, it is mostly children who are affected, especially those of lower socioeconomic status and those who frequently walk barefoot.[18]

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