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Unusual faecal elements in a human diarrhoeal stool
B Sinniah1, A R Sheikh Omar, C C Lee
1Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur.
The Medical Journal of Malaysia
|December 1, 1994
Summary
A prolonged diarrhea case in a teenager was initially misdiagnosed as a parasitic worm infection due to "worm-like eggs" in stool. These were later identified as pollen grains, highlighting a rare diagnostic challenge.
Area of Science:
- Medical Diagnosis
- Parasitology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- A 16-year-old female presented with a three-month history of persistent diarrhea and significant weight loss.
- Previous treatments with antibiotics and anti-spasmodics were ineffective.
- Initial stool examinations suggested a parasitic worm infection.
Observation:
- Stool examinations conducted by private laboratories reported the presence of "worm-like eggs".
- The patient received mebendazole treatment for presumed parasitic infection, which offered partial symptom relief.
Findings:
- Subsequent analysis revealed that the "worm-like eggs" were misidentified pollen grains.
- This misidentification led to an incorrect diagnosis and prolonged, ineffective treatment.
Implications:
- Highlights the critical importance of accurate diagnostic methods in identifying the cause of chronic diarrhea.
- Underscores the potential for misinterpretation of stool samples, emphasizing the need for expert confirmation.
- Suggests that environmental factors, such as pollen ingestion, could be mistaken for parasitic infections in stool analysis.