Ensuring that freshwater fish and watercress are thoroughly cooked before consuming them is the most effective way to prevent a liver fluke infection. People who are travelling to areas with poor sanitation should certainly avoid food and water that could potentially be contaminated with the parasites. This is because there currently is no vaccine available to prevent liver fluke infections. An infection will usually be treated with a drug called triclabendazole. Surgery is sometimes required for related long-term complications like cholangitis infection of the bile duct.
Some alternative therapy practitioners recommend taking golden seal for parasitic infections, as well as parasite cleanses and colonic irrigation. The symptoms of a liver fluke infection can also be treated using traditional methods. For example, you can take acetaminophen Tylenol to relieve abdominal pain and to reduce fever. Anti-nausea medications can reduce nausea and vomiting. This may leave you wondering if your liver fluke infection has cleared.
The only sure way to tell is to revisit your doctor, who can test your stool to see if liver fluke eggs are present. Liver flukes are common in certain parts of the world. People from these areas are, of course, at a higher risk of infection. People who travel to these areas are also at risk. Anyone who has a recent history of eating raw or undercooked fish or watercress particularly while in these areas should be tested as a matter of routine. The outlook for individuals who contract a liver fluke infection is extremely good.
Many people can live with liver fluke infections their entire lives and never experience a symptom or develop a complication.
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When symptoms do occur, they are always treatable and often curable. A liver fluke infection in itself can never be fatal. Cholangiocarcinoma is the most severe complication that can develop as a result of a liver fluke infection. In the rare event that this should occur, the 5-year survival rate for this form of cancer ranges from 20 to 50 percent if the cancer is caught early. Early detection of liver fluke infections is imperative to prevent complications from arising.
The number of eosinophils may increase in people with a fluke infection. Imaging tests of the liver , such as ultrasonography, computed tomography CT , magnetic resonance imaging MRI , endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography ERCP , or cholangiography, may be done to check for damage to the liver and bile ducts. Occasionally, doctors see adult flukes in the bile duct when they examine the inside of the digestive tract with a viewing tube endoscope passed through the mouth.
Thoroughly cooking freshwater fish from areas where Clonorchis and Opisthorchis infections occur helps prevent liver fluke infections. Raw, dried, salted, or pickled fish from these areas should not be eaten. Raw watercress and other water plants should not be eaten in areas where sheep or cattle may be infected with Fasciola.
Liver fluke infections are treated with a drug that eliminates flukes from the body. Praziquantel or albendazole for clonorchiasis. Triclabendazole for fascioliasis doctors can obtain this drug from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Genital warts are caused by the human papillomavirus HPV , which is sexually transmitted.
Tap to switch to the Professional version. Fluke Infections of the Liver. Additional Content Medical News. This is the Consumer Version. Click here for the Professional Version. Certain species of flukes cause infections of the liver. Clonorchis sinensis Chinese or oriental liver fluke , which causes clonorchiasis. People can get liver fluke infections when they swallow cysts containing immature flukes larvae of the following: Examination of a stool sample.
A drug that eliminates flukes from the body an anthelmintic drug. Eggs are passed in the stool and embryonate in fresh water.
Liver Flukes
The eggs are either ingested by snails in the case of Fasciolopsis or miracidia are released and invade an intermediate snail host in the case of Heterophyes and Metagonimus. Cercariae released from the snail either invade fish and encyst Heterophyes and Metagonimus or encyst on water plants Fasciolopsis and are subsequently consumed by humans. The larva excyst and take up residence in the wall of the small intestine where they develop into adult egg-laying worms. Fasciolopsis adults are 20 to 75 mm by 8 to 20 mm, whereas Heterophyes and Metagonimus are much smaller 1.
Pigs also become infected with Fasciolopsis by consuming plants and serve as a definitive host whereas cats, dogs and birds that eat fish may harbor the other intestinal flukes. Lung flukes reside in cystic cavities in the human lung see Figure 5.
Eggs are either expectorated in sputum or passed in the stool. Upon reaching fresh water, eggs undergo embryonation and release free-living miracidia that find and invade a suitable snail host. Development through successive stages similar to those of liver flukes results in the release of cercariae that invade the second intermediate host, a crustacean of the crab or crayfish families, where they encyst to form metacercariae.
Metacercariae are ingested by humans who eat inadequately cooked or pickled crustaceans. Excystation occurs in the duodenum and the larva migrate through the intestinal wall, peritoneum, and diaphragm, to ultimately reach the pulmonary parenchyma. In the lung, the larva encapsulates and develops into adult worms that begin oviposition in days.
Where are these infections prevalent? At least ten million people are infected with Opisthorchis species in Laos and Thailand alone. Other species are found in Africa and Central and South America. Several cases of infection with P. How is infection acquired? Consumption of raw or inadequately cooked fish is the primary risk factor for acquisition of Clonorchis and Opisthorchis infection in endemic areas.
Occasional cases in the US occur due to consumption of imported fish.
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Fasciola infection occurs through consumption of fresh vegetation including watercress, parsley etc. Fasciolopsis infection occurs through consumption of fresh vegetation and the other intestinal flukes are found in uncooked fish. Pargonimus infection is acquired through the consumption of uncooked or pickled, crabs and crayfish. Prevention Avoiding uncooked, pickled or smoked fish, crustaceans or raw vegetables in endemic areas is the only method to prevent infection.
The following methods will kill the metacercariae in fish products: Various strategies to improve aquacultural practices and treatment of infected populations are underway but have met with limited success to date. Infect Dis Clin North Am. Hong, ST, Fang, Y. Mairiang, E, Mairiang, P. No sponsor or advertiser has participated in, approved or paid for the content provided by Decision Support in Medicine LLC. What every clinician needs to know Parasite name and classification What is the best treatment?
What are the clinical manifestations of infection with this organism? Do other diseases mimic its manifestations? What laboratory studies should you order and what should you expect to find? What imaging studies will be helpful in making or excluding the diagnosis of infection with flukes? What complications can be associated with this parasitic infection, and are there additional treatments that can help to alleviate these complications?
What is the life cycle of the parasite, and how does the life cycle explain infection in humans? What every clinician needs to know Parasite name and classification There are three major types of liver flukes pathogenic for humans: What is the best treatment? Fasciola Distinct syndromes are associated with the acute and chronic phases of infection: Intestinal Flukes Most infections are asymptomatic.
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Chest pain and shortness of breath are common. Lung flukes Detection of eggs in sputum and stool may be difficult and insensitive. MR imaging of the liver may also add sensitivity to the diagnosis of F. Cholangiocarcinoma is associated with chronic Opisthorchis and Clonorchis infection. Life cycle of Clonorchis and Opisthorchis species.
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