[Distomatosis: diagnosis and treatment]

Distomatosis caused by Fasciola hepatica is fairly common in France. It is due to the ingestion of contaminated watercress or wild dandelions. Fever is frequent. Jaundice and liver pain are inconstant. The disease is often revealed by an isolated eosinophilia. Ultrasonography and/or computerized tomography are useful to evaluate the hepatic lesions. The diagnosis is confirmed by the finding of eggs in the stools or by serological tests. Numerous other flukes may infect people living overseas and particularly in South-East Asia. Clonorchis sinensis and other Opisthorchidae are responsible for distomatosis of the liver and digestive tract. Several types of intestinal distomatosis may also be acquired. Paragonimiasis (a pulmonary fluke) is particularly frequent in that part of the world. The diagnosis rests on the finding of eggs in the stools (digestive tract distomatosis) or in the airways (paragonimiasis) or on serological tests. The prognosis has been improved by treatment with praziquantel, a drug which in most cases stops the development of the disease within a few days.