Disease at a Glance

Summary
A foodborne zoonotic disease, endemic to Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands, caused by the rat lungworm Angiostrongylus cantonensis and that is acquired by the ingestion of the infective larvae on vegetables or in raw or undercooked snails, slugs, land crabs, freshwater shrimps, frogs and lizards. The main feature is eosinophilic meningitis, with clinical manifestations including fever, headache, malaise, fatigue, vomiting, rhinorrhea, blurred vision, diplopia, cough, stiff neck, enteritis, constipation and paraesthesia due to the movement of the worms from the intestines to the lungs, central nervous system and eyes. In severe cases without treatment, coma and death can occur.
Resource(s) for Medical Professionals and Scientists on This Disease:
This section is currently in development.

About Angiostrongyliasis

Many rare diseases have limited information. Currently GARD aims to provide the following information for this disease:

  • Population Estimate:This section is currently in development.
  • Symptoms:May start to appear at any time in life.
  • Cause:This condition is caused by germs such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites.
  • Organizations:GARD is not currently aware of organizations specific to this condition.
  • Categories:Infectious Disease
When Do Symptoms of Angiostrongyliasis Begin?
Symptoms of this disease may start to appear at any time in life.

The age symptoms may begin to appear differs between diseases. Symptoms may begin in a single age range, or during several age ranges. The symptoms from some diseases may begin at any age. Knowing when symptoms began to appear can help medical providers find the correct diagnosis.
Prenatal Selected
Before Birth
Newborn Selected
Birth-4 weeks
Infant Selected
1-23 months
Child Selected
2-11 years
Adolescent Selected
12-18 years
Adult Selected
19-65 years
Older Adult Selected
65+ years
Symptoms may start to appear at any time in life.
This information comes from Orphanet

Symptoms

The number and severity of symptoms experienced may differ among people with this disease. Your experience may be different from others, and you should consult your primary care provider for more information.

This list is not all-inclusive, but the following symptoms have been linked to this disease:
Nervous System Nervous System

32 Symptoms

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List View
Tile View
List View

Nervous System

The nervous system is made up of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. Common symptoms of problems in the nervous system include trouble moving, speaking, swallowing, breathing, or learning. Problems with memory, senses, or mood may also occur. Nervous system diseases are usually diagnosed and treated by neurologists.
Medical Term

CSF pleocytosis

Frequency
Uncommon
Very frequent
Very frequent
Always
Description

An increased white blood cell count in the cerebrospinal fluid.

An increased white blood cell count in the cerebrospinal fluid.

Synonym

Cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis; Increased leukocyte count in CSF

Cerebrospinal fluid pleocytosis; Increased leukocyte count in CSF

32 Symptoms
This information comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO)

Causes

Infectious Disease

Angiostrongyliasis is an infectious disease, which means that it is caused by germs such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites.

What Is an Infectious Disease?

An infectious disease (ID) is a disease caused by germs such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. While these germs are mostly harmless, and sometimes even helpful, there are some cases in which the germs that enter the body multiply and cause infections with a wide range of symptoms.

Infections can cause serious illnesses if they affect vital organs, such as the heart, brain, or liver. They can also spread through the blood stream to cause widespread symptoms in our bodies.

Some individuals, like those with compromised immune systems or those who take medications that suppress the immune system, may be more likely to be affected by these types of diseases.  

Learn more about Emerging & Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (CDC); or check out Facts About Infectious Diseases.

An infectious disease (ID) is a disease caused by germs such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. While these germs are mostly harmless, and sometimes even helpful, there are some cases in which the germs that enter the body multiply and cause infections with a wide range of symptoms.

Infections can cause serious illnesses if they affect vital organs, such as the heart, brain, or liver. They can also spread through the blood stream to cause widespread symptoms in our bodies.

Some individuals, like those with compromised immune systems or those who take medications that suppress the immune system, may be more likely to be affected by these types of diseases.  

Learn more about Emerging & Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (CDC); or check out Facts About Infectious Diseases.

Read More

Advocacy and Support Groups

How Can Patient Organizations Help?

Patient organizations can help patients and families connect. They build public awareness of the disease and are a driving force behind research to improve patients' lives. They may offer online and in-person resources to help people live well with their disease. Many collaborate with medical experts and researchers.

Services of patient organizations differ, but may include:

  • Ways to connect to others and share personal stories
  • Easy-to-read information
  • Up-to-date treatment and research information
  • Patient registries
  • Lists of specialists or specialty centers
  • Financial aid and travel resources

Please note: GARD provides organizations for informational purposes only and not as an endorsement of their services. Please contact an organization directly if you have questions about the information or resources it provides.

Patient Organizations

4 Organizations

Organization Name

Who They Serve

Helpful Links

Country

EveryLife Foundation for Rare Diseases
People With

Rare Diseases

Helpful Links
Country

United States

Genetic Alliance
People With

Rare Diseases

Helpful Links
Country

United States

Global Genes
People With

Rare Diseases

Helpful Links
Country

United States

National Organization for Rare Disorders
People With

Rare Diseases

Helpful Links
Country

United States

Participating in Clinical Studies

Clinical studies are part of clinical research and at the heart of all medical advances, including rare diseases. Participating in research helps researchers ultimately uncover better ways to treat, prevent, diagnose, and understand human diseases.

What Are Clinical Studies?

Clinical studies are medical research involving people as participants. There are two main types of clinical studies:

  1. Clinical trials determine if a new test or treatment for a disease is effective and safe by comparing groups receiving different tests/treatments.
  2. Observational studies involve recording changes over time among a specific group of people in their natural settings.
Learn more about the different types of clinical studies, consent forms, questions you should ask before participating in clinical studies, and the difference between research and medical treatment.

Why Participate in Clinical Studies?

People participate in clinical trials for a variety of reasons. Participants with a disease may participate to help others, but also to possibly receive the newest treatment and additional care from clinical study staff. Healthy volunteers may also participate to help others and to contribute to moving science forward.

How Do You Find the Right Clinical Study?

To find the right clinical study we recommend you:

  • Use ClincalTrials.gov button below to search for studies by disease, terms, or country.
  • Consult doctors, other trusted medical professionals, and patient organizations.
  • Enroll in databases to allow researchers from participating institutions to find you.

What if There Are No Available Clinical Studies?

ResearchMatch helps connect people interested in research studies with researchers from top medical centers across the United States. Anyone from the U.S. can register with this free program funded by NIH. Researchers from participating institutions use the database to search for and invite patients or healthy volunteers who meet their study criteria to participate.

What Are Clinical Studies?

Clinical studies are medical research involving people as participants. There are two main types of clinical studies:

  1. Clinical trials determine if a new test or treatment for a disease is effective and safe by comparing groups receiving different tests/treatments.
  2. Observational studies involve recording changes over time among a specific group of people in their natural settings.
Learn more about the different types of clinical studies, consent forms, questions you should ask before participating in clinical studies, and the difference between research and medical treatment.

Why Participate in Clinical Studies?

People participate in clinical trials for a variety of reasons. Participants with a disease may participate to help others, but also to possibly receive the newest treatment and additional care from clinical study staff. Healthy volunteers may also participate to help others and to contribute to moving science forward.

How Do You Find the Right Clinical Study?

To find the right clinical study we recommend you:

  • Use ClincalTrials.gov button below to search for studies by disease, terms, or country.
  • Consult doctors, other trusted medical professionals, and patient organizations.
  • Enroll in databases to allow researchers from participating institutions to find you.

What if There Are No Available Clinical Studies?

ResearchMatch helps connect people interested in research studies with researchers from top medical centers across the United States. Anyone from the U.S. can register with this free program funded by NIH. Researchers from participating institutions use the database to search for and invite patients or healthy volunteers who meet their study criteria to participate.

ClinicalTrials.gov, an affiliate of NIH, provides current information on clinical research studies in the United States and abroad. Talk to a trusted doctor before choosing to participate in any clinical study. We recommend checking this site often and searching for studies with related terms/synonyms to improve results.
Please contact GARD if you need help finding additional information or resources on rare diseases, including clinical studies. Our Information Specialists are available to you by phone or by filling out our contact form. Note, GARD cannot enroll individuals in clinical studies.
ClinicalTrials.gov, an affiliate of NIH, provides current information on clinical research studies in the United States and abroad. Talk to a trusted doctor before choosing to participate in any clinical study. We recommend checking this site often and searching for studies with related terms/synonyms to improve results.
Please contact GARD if you need help finding additional information or resources on rare diseases, including clinical studies. Our Information Specialists are available to you by phone or by filling out our contact form. Note, GARD cannot enroll individuals in clinical studies.

Learn about symptoms, cause, support, and research for a rare disease. 

Take steps toward getting a diagnosis by working with your doctor, finding the right specialists, and coordinating medical care.

Find resources for patients and caregivers that address the challenges of living with a rare disease.

Take steps toward getting a diagnosis by working with your doctor, finding the right specialists, and coordinating medical care.

Last Updated: February 2023