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[Fascioliasis in children. A study of 10 cases]
R Alvarez-Chacón1, J J García-Rosales, M C de la Cruz-Otero
1Servicio de Parasitología, Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, D.F., México.
Insights
This study observed ten pediatric fascioliasis cases, with most linked to watercress consumption. Dehydroemetine proved most effective in treating this parasitic infection in children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric infectious diseases
- Parasitology
- Gastroenterology
Context:
- Fascioliasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by liver fluke parasites.
- Watercress is a common source of infection in endemic areas.
- This study focuses on pediatric cases in Mexico.
Purpose:
- To describe the clinical characteristics, diagnosis, and treatment of fascioliasis in children.
- To evaluate diagnostic methods and treatment efficacy.
Summary:
- Ten pediatric patients diagnosed with fascioliasis were studied retrospectively.
- Clinical manifestations included fever, weight loss, hepatomegaly, and abdominal pain.
- Diagnosis utilized serological tests (counterimmunoelectrophoresis, indirect hemagglutination) and parasitic detection (eggs in stool/duodenal samples).
- Elevated alkaline phosphatase and hypergammaglobulinemia were common findings.
- Dehydroemetine was the most effective treatment identified.
Impact:
- Highlights the importance of considering fascioliasis in children with relevant symptoms, especially after watercress consumption.
- Provides insights into diagnostic challenges and effective treatment options for pediatric fascioliasis.
- Contributes to understanding the epidemiology and clinical spectrum of fascioliasis in a specific geographic region.
Abstract:
These are the observation found in ten children with fascioliasis diagnosis at the Servicio de Parasitología, of the Instituto Nacional de Pediatría, from 1979 to 1990; six children in scholar age; one prescholar and three teenagers; only one was female. Four of them lined at the State of Mexico; three at Morelos; one at Puebla, another one at Oaxaca and the other one at Mexico City. In nine of the watercress eaten was confirmed. The most important clinic manifestations were: fever, weight lose, paleness, hepatomegaly, hiporexia, right hypochondrium pain and diarrhoea. Diagnosis was established by: counterimmunoelectrophoresis, indirect haemagglutination and there were found eggs by simple sedimentation, Ritchie's method and microscopic study of duodenal sample. Leukocytes counts were between 11,000 and 34,000/mm3. Eosinophils were to 77% with 24,430 totals. Only in three of them haemoglobin was found under 9 g/dL. All of them had hypergammaglobulinemia. In nine patients the alkaline phosphatase was found in higher levels; only in three of them, transaminase, oxalacetic and glutamic piruvic were found in higher levels. The most effective drug in the treatment was dehidroemetine.