INFECTION WITH FASCIOLA-HEPATICA IN A FAMILY - DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

A 39-year-old man was hospitalized because of a 5-week history of feeling very ill, with fever up to 39-degrees-C and nonspecific upper abdominal pain. He looked very pale and his spleen was painful on palpation. There was a blood eosinophilia of over 50% and computed tomography demonstrated hypodense areas in the liver, suggesting a parasitic infection with liver involvement. An ELISA factor of over 100 and the finding of liver fluke eggs in bile confirmed the diagnosis of Fasciola hepatica infection, which was probably acquired by eating wild watercress when visiting in the Allgau. A fasciola infection was also proven in his 37-year-old sister who for some time had complained of colicky right-sided upper abdominal pain, her 40-year-old husband with similar symptoms and their 10-year-old daughter. All four were successfully treated for two days with 10 mg/kg triclabendazole daily by mouth. - Persons eating raw vegetables and salads of wild-growing plants are at risk of being infected with Fasciola hepatica.