ORIGINAL ARTICLES

Clinical characteristics of patients with intestinal Diphyllobothrium tapeworm infection

  • LI Xiaoli ,
  • LI Shaogang ,
  • WU Zhaoyong
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  • Beijing Tropical Medicine Research Institute, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China

Received date: 2023-02-01

  Revised date: 2023-04-04

  Online published: 2023-09-06

Supported by

National Natural Science Foundation of China(81702018);Research Foundation of Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University(yyqdkt2018-34)

Abstract

Objective To summarize and analyze the characteristics of clinical manifestation and laboratory indicators of patients with intestinal infection of Diphyllobothrium tapeworm. Methods The medical record, including gender, age, epidemiological history (residence, history of overseas traveling and dietary habits), clinical manifestation, laboratory examinations when admitted (blood routing test, liver function, fecal examination for parasite eggs, and parasite species identification), treatment record and prognosis were collected from 18 diphyllobothriasis cases diagnosed at the Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University from January 2009 to July 2022. Information on patients' clinical features and the changes in laboratory findings were summarized and analyzed. Results The 18 cases included 9 male and 9 female respectively, of them the age ranged from 8 to 47 years with an average of (28.88 ± 11.57) years. Epidemiological inquiry indicated that 12 cases were locals from Beijing, while 6 patients were from other provinces, among them 7 patients had overseas traveling history, and all patients had history of consuming raw/undercooked fish meat and beef. The clinical manifestation of the 18 cases were abdominal pain and distension in 6 cases, and dizziness in 2 cases, whereas anal pruritus and body weight loss were not seen, and 10 were asymptomatic. The inflammatory indicator of leukocyte count, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, anemia indicator of erythrocyte and hemoglobin, eosinophils count, and liver function showed no abnormal changes. Fecal examination found Diphyllobothrium tapeworm eggs in the samples from 8 cases, and proglottids from all cases. Deworming regime with Chinese medicine areca-pumpkin seed cured all patients. Conclusion Most of the cases infected with Diphyllobothrium tapeworm are asymptomatic or showed only mild gastrointestinal symptoms, with no significant abnormal changes in blood routine test and liver function examination. Early diagnosis could be made by fecal examination etiologically and epidemiological inquiry.

Cite this article

LI Xiaoli , LI Shaogang , WU Zhaoyong . Clinical characteristics of patients with intestinal Diphyllobothrium tapeworm infection[J]. CHINESE JOURNAL OF PARASITOLOGY AND PARASITIC DISEASES, 2023 , 41(4) : 459 -463 . DOI: 10.12140/j.issn.1000-7423.2023.04.010

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