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First case of intestinal acariasis from Egypt
Refaat M A Khalifa1, Manal Z M Abdellatif2, Azza K Ahmed2
1Medical Parasitology Departments, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
Springerplus
|January 21, 2016
Summary
Mold mites (Tyrophagus putrescentiae) and Blastocystis sp. were identified in a child's stool. Successful treatment with ivermectin suggests the patient had asymptomatic blastocystosis.
Area of Science:
- Medical Parasitology
- Clinical Microbiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Intestinal parasitic infections can present with varied symptoms, complicating diagnosis.
- Mold mites (Tyrophagus putrescentiae) and Blastocystis sp. are known human and animal parasites.
- Co-infection with parasites can lead to diagnostic challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report a case of intestinal mite and Blastocystis co-infection in a child.
- To investigate the diagnostic approach for suspected intestinal acariasis.
- To evaluate the treatment efficacy of ivermectin in this specific case.
Main Methods:
- Stool sample analysis for parasite identification over six consecutive samples.
- Clinical evaluation of patient symptoms and family history.
- Treatment with ivermectin and monitoring of patient's response.
Main Results:
- Eggs and adults of mold mites (Tyrophagus putrescentiae) and Blastocystis sp. trophozoites were identified in the patient's stool.
- The patient experienced severe abdominal pain and perianal burning.
- Family members were asymptomatic carriers of mites.
- Complete symptom resolution after ivermectin treatment.
Conclusions:
- Repeated stool examinations are crucial for diagnosing spurious or incidental findings of mites.
- Ivermectin proved effective in treating the patient's condition.
- The case highlights the potential for Blastocystis sp. to cause symptoms, possibly masked by other infections or presenting as asymptomatic blastocystosis.
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