Tainted Soil May Put Kids at Risk for Vision Loss, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Study

Children are among those most likely to be affected by a parasitic disease called ocular toxocariasis (OT), which can lead to permanent vision loss, according to a national survey of American ophthalmologists. OT can occur when a person ingests dirt that's contaminated with microscopic Toxocara eggs, which come from feces of an infected dog or cat. Larvae that emerge from the eggs migrate throughout the body and cause severe systemic reactions. Children are at high risk for this type of infection due to their play habits and hygiene practices, according to researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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