What is Fascioliasis?
Fascioliasis is an infection caused by flukes of the class Trematoda most often characterized by fever, eosinophilia and abdominal pain although halves of the patients may be asymptomatic.
Who gets affected by Fascioliasis?
Males are more affected than females. Most of the patients suffering from fascioliasis are adults.
What are the common risk factors of Fascioliasis?
The most common risk factor for catching fascioliasis infection is the consumption of
• Contaminated water plants
• Contaminated water
• Consumption of contaminated raw liver from infected sheep, goats or cows.
What are the signs and symptoms of Fascioliasis?
In the physical examination, the patient reveals no specific signs of infection.
Tenderness of the abdomen may be general or may be localized to the right hypochondrium, mild epigastrium or left upper quadrant.
Hepatomegaly may occur with tenderness or without tenderness.
The patient often shows the following symptoms:-
• Fever
• Pallor
• Weight loss
Less often patients present with the following symptoms:-
• Urticaria
• Wheezing
• Nodules ( subcutaneous) of about 6 cm in diameter
Patients with marrerra may have severe pharyngitis or laryngeal edema.
What investigation is advised in cases of Fascioliasis?
Laboratory tests to be done are as follows:
• CBC count
• Erythrocyte sedimentation rate
• Serology
• Polymerase chain reaction assays
• Immunoglobulin levels
• Liver function tests
• Stool examination for ova and parasites
Imaging studies to be done are as follows:
• Chest radiography
• MRI
• CT scanning
• Cholangiography
• US-guided gallbladder aspiration
• Technetium- 99 scanning
What treatment is advised for Fascioliasis?
The medication to be given for the treatment is praziquantel.
Patients with ascending cholangitis may require surgery.
What complications are advised for Fascioliasis?
• Severe anemia
• Pancreatitis
• Ectopic foci of infection
• Hemoperitoneum
• Subcapsular hematoma
• Hepatic mass
• Cholecystitis
• Ascending cholangitis
• Hemobilia from ulceration of the biliary epithelium
• Gallstones
• Sclerosing cholangitis
How to differentiate Fascioliasis from other diseases?
• Ascariasis
• Amebiasis
• Ancylostoma infection
• Anemia, chronic
• Biliary atresia
• Bancroftian filariasis
• Cholestasis
• Cholelithiasis
• Cutaneous larva migrans
• Cysticercosis
• Dirofilariasis
• Dracunculiasis
• Echinococcosis
• Fever without a focus
• Giardiasis
• Hookworm infection
• Hymenolepiasis
• Hypereosinophilic syndrome
• Intestinal protozoal diseases
• Leptospirosis
• Schistosomiasis
• Taenia infection
What are commonly indicated Homeopathic remedies for Fascioliasis?
Cina
Lyco
Mag carb
