[Visceral larva migrans in childhood: report of 2 cases].

Reports of Visceral larva migrans (VLM) are not frequent in Brazil, but the prevalence of this disease may be more common due to poor environmental conditions to which most of the children are exposed. The most common infectious agent is Toxocara canis, a parasite of the intestinal tract of dogs. Children get infected eating contaminated material with feces of dogs. The ova are swallowed and reach the intestinal lumen of the children. Systemic migration occurs by lymphatic or portal circulation to several organs, most frequently, to the liver and lungs, causing hepatosplenomegaly and/or bronchospasm.