Kumar Saurabh1, Shilpi Ranjan2. 1. Department of Pediatrics, Government Medical College, Bettiah, Bihar, India. 2. Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Bettiah, Bihar, India.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To describe the clinical and sociodemographic profile of fasciolopsiasis in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A chart review of 56 children presenting with the passage of adult Fasciolopsis buski per stool from February 2015 to January 2016 was done for their clinical profile and risk factors for acquiring fasciolopsiasis in the Paediatric Unit of a medical college of Northern India. RESULTS: The mean age of presentation was 8.2 years (2-14 years age group). Persistent diarrhoea (85.71%) was the most common presentation, whereas anaemia (71.42%) was the most common sign. Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) and tuberculosis were well-associated comorbid conditions in this study. Polyparasitism was an important finding, Hymenolepis nana being the most common associated parasite. Patients were treated either with praziquantel or nitazoxanide. CONCLUSION: All patients recovered well except one who died due to severe PEM and disseminated tuberculosis and two cases presented with relapse. Most of the cases of polyparasitism were associated with tuberculosis.
PURPOSE: To describe the clinical and sociodemographic profile of fasciolopsiasis in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A chart review of 56 children presenting with the passage of adult Fasciolopsis buski per stool from February 2015 to January 2016 was done for their clinical profile and risk factors for acquiring fasciolopsiasis in the Paediatric Unit of a medical college of Northern India. RESULTS: The mean age of presentation was 8.2 years (2-14 years age group). Persistent diarrhoea (85.71%) was the most common presentation, whereas anaemia (71.42%) was the most common sign. Protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) and tuberculosis were well-associated comorbid conditions in this study. Polyparasitism was an important finding, Hymenolepis nana being the most common associated parasite. Patients were treated either with praziquantel or nitazoxanide. CONCLUSION: All patients recovered well except one who died due to severe PEM and disseminated tuberculosis and two cases presented with relapse. Most of the cases of polyparasitism were associated with tuberculosis.