Opisthorchiasis
Overview
Infection with a type of fluke (Southeast Asian liver fluke or cat liver fluke). Infection usually occurs by consuming infected undercooked fish. Acute infection may cause fever, joint pain, rash, eosinophilia and lymphadenopathy where as chronic infections may cause enlarged liver, malnutrition. Mild cases can cause constipation, diarrhea and abdominal pain. Occasionally, the infection may be asymptomatic and in the other extreme, severe cases may result in complications such as cholangiocarcinoma.
Symptoms
* Asymptomatic * Dyspepsia * Abdominal pain * Constipation * Diarrhea
Causes
Human infection occurs through consumption of pickled, raw, or poorly cooked fish that contain the developing worms known as metacercariae. Infection most frequently occurs in Thailand, Laos, and southeast Asia as a result of the cultural preference for raw fish cuisine.
Treatment
Treatment with the drug Praziquantiel has been reported as extremely effective with a single dose. Disturbingly though, use of Praziquantiel has not been associated with a decrease in cholangiocarcinoma. This indicates that infection must be entirely avoided to prevent a future diagnosis of cancer.