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Fascioliasis imported to Norway
Mogens Jensenius1, Trond Flaegstad, Tore Stenstad
1Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Aker University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. mogens.jensenius@ioks.uio.no
Scandinavian Journal of Infectious Diseases
|July 14, 2005
Summary
This study details three imported fascioliasis cases in Norway, diagnosed via antibody tests and egg detection. All patients recovered quickly after triclabendazole treatment, highlighting the need to consider fascioliasis in travelers.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Parasitology
- Tropical Medicine
Background:
- Fascioliasis, a liver fluke infection, is endemic in many parts of the world.
- Imported cases are infrequently reported, posing diagnostic challenges in non-endemic regions.
Observation:
- Three cases of fascioliasis were imported to Norway: two acute cases in Vietnamese immigrants and one chronic case in an Ethiopian adoptee.
- Clinical presentations included abdominal symptoms and hypereosinophilia.
Findings:
- Diagnosis was confirmed by detecting Fasciola hepatica antibodies in acute cases and Fasciola hepatica eggs in stool in the chronic case.
- All patients achieved a prompt cure following oral triclabendazole treatment.
Implications:
- Fascioliasis should be suspected in individuals with a relevant travel history, particularly those presenting with abdominal pain and elevated eosinophils.
- Early diagnosis and treatment with triclabendazole are crucial for favorable outcomes in imported fascioliasis.