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Hepatic capillariasis: first case report in the Republic of Korea
1Department of Pathology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Republic of Korea.
Insights
A rare Capillaria hepatica infection in a child caused severe liver disease. This case highlights the importance of considering parasitic liver infections in pediatric patients with persistent fever and enlarged livers.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Parasitology
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Capillaria hepatica is a parasitic nematode that can infect the liver.
- Human infections are rare, with most reported cases occurring in children.
- This is the first documented case in the Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
We report a case of massive hepatic infection by Capillaria hepatica in a 14-month-old girl who presented with the symptom triad of persistent fever, hepatomegaly, and leukocytosis with eosinophilia. Twenty-five cases of human infection with this parasite, mostly in children, have been reported in the literature. This is the first case of hepatic capillariasis reported in the Republic of Korea. The diagnosis was made by needle biopsy of the liver. Scanning electron microscopic examination of the biopsy specimen was also performed. Thiabendazole therapy was initiated and the patient developed liver disease-related IgA nephropathy during the therapy. The literature dealing with proven cases of infection with C. hepatica is briefly reviewed.