Six cases of hepatic fascioliasis

Authors

  • Susana Galretas Serviço de Medicina III dos Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra
  • Marta Laïz Serviço de Medicina III dos Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra
  • Adélia Simão Serviço de Medicina III dos Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra
  • Armando Carvalho Serviço de Medicina III dos Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra
  • Adriano Rodrigues Serviço de Medicina III dos Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra
  • Anabela Sá Serviço de Medicina III dos Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra
  • Arsénio Santos Serviço de Medicina III dos Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra
  • Rui Santos Serviço de Medicina III dos Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra
  • J. A. P. da Silva Serviço de Medicina III dos Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra
  • Conceição Reis Serviço de Medicina III dos Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra
  • Eurico Almiro Serviço de Medicina III dos Hospitais da Universidade de Coimbra
  • Armando Porto Director do Serviço de Medicina III dos H.U.C.; Professor Catedrático da Faculdade de Medicina de Coimbra

Keywords:

hepatic fascioliasis, diagnosis, triclabendazole

Abstract

Fascioliasis is an infectious disease, caused by the fluke Fasciola hepatica, that mainly parasitises herbivorous animals. Man is an accidental host. Infection results from eating raw aquatic vegetables with encysted metacercariae.
The authors report 6 cases of human hepatic fascioliasis, admitted in the University of Coimbra hospital, Medicine III Service, in the last 15 years. Of the six cases, 4 were males and 2 females, with a mean age of 57 years. The most
frequent symptom was abdominal pain and the most frequent sign was jaundice. Complaints
lasted, on average, 1.6 months. Four patients confirmed recent ingestion of raw watercress.
All had eosinophilia and altered liver function tests. Abdominal ultrasound and computed
tomography scan suggested neoplasia in 3 patients, which made the diagnosis more difficult. The diagnosis was made on a positive
parasitological examination of stool specimens.
All patients had chronic fascioliasis. Five were treated with praziquantel; in 4 it was ineffective
and they had to be re-treated, 2 with bithionol and 2 with dihydroemetine. The most recently
diagnosed patient was treated with a single dose of triclabendazole.

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Additional Files

Published

2003-12-31

How to Cite

1.
Galretas S, Laïz M, Simão A, Carvalho A, Rodrigues A, Sá A, Santos A, Santos R, da Silva JAP, Reis C, Almiro E, Porto A. Six cases of hepatic fascioliasis. RPMI [Internet]. 2003 Dec. 31 [cited 2024 May 18];10(4):185-92. Available from: https://revista.spmi.pt/index.php/rpmi/article/view/1828

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 4 (2003): Outubro/ Dezembro

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Original Articles

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