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Dirofilariasis Mimicking an Acute Scrotum
Mirko Bertozzi1, Victoria Elisa Rinaldi, Marco Prestipino
1From the *Struttura Complessa di Clinica Chirurgica Pediatrica, and †Struttura Complessa di Clinica Pediatrica, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Ospedale S. Maria della Misericordia; and ‡Struttura Semplice Dipartimentale Citologia ed Istologia Diagnostica, Ospedale S. Maria della Misericordia, Azienda Ospedaliera di Perugia, Perugia, Italy.
Dirofilaria repens infections, a known global health issue, can affect children. A rare case highlights intrascrotal dirofilariasis in a pediatric patient presenting as acute scrotum.
Area of Science:
- Parasitology
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Global Health
Background:
- Human infections by Dirofilaria repens are increasingly reported worldwide.
- Dirofilariasis is a parasitic zoonosis caused by filarial worms typically found in animals.
Observation:
- A 3-year-old child presented with an intrascrotal mass.
- The clinical presentation mimicked acute scrotum, a surgical emergency.
Findings:
- The intrascrotal mass was diagnosed as Dirofilaria repens infection.
- This is the first reported case of scrotal dirofilariasis in a pediatric patient with this specific presentation.
Implications:
- Highlights the importance of considering parasitic infections in pediatric scrotal pathology.
- Underscores the need for increased awareness of Dirofilaria repens as a cause of human disease, even in unusual presentations.
- Suggests potential for dirofilariasis to present as a diagnostic challenge in pediatric surgical settings.
