Human dicrocoeliasis. Report on 208 cases from Saudi Arabia

In 3 years, Dicrocoelium dendriticum ova were detected in 208 patients at the Armed Forces Hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia during 1984-1986. At least 7 of these patients had a true infection and at least 34 patients had spurious infection as they gave a history of eating raw liver. 23% of the 208 patients were under 14 years of age. The peak incidence was between October and November in each of the 3 years. 134 of these patients were symptomatic. 16 patients had disturbed liver functions and 13 had eosinophilia. 10 patients had gall bladder or biliary tree disease and in at least 2 of which it was due to D. dendriticum. Malabsorption occurred in one patient. Praziquantel was used in 9 patients and was successful in treating 4 of these patients.