Eight cases of fascioliasis: clinical and microbiological features.

UNLABELLED

Fascioliasis is a parasitic infection caused by the ingestion of food contaminated with Fasciola hepatica.

OBJECTIVE AND DESIGN

We report an epidemic of eight cases of fascioliasis in southern France, and describe the clinical features, and the diagnostic and therapeutic tools.

RESULTS

Our series includes almost every clinical form described, apart from the pseudotumoral form. Early diagnosis relied mainly on serum assays. Among these, counter-electrophoresis was the first to be positive and therefore appears to be the most useful test, including cases where patients are asymptomatic or mildly ill. Patients were treated with the usual dose of triclabendazole, but six of them required a double dose to recover.

CONCLUSION

The use of 20 mg/kg triclabendazole is safe and efficient for patients with acute fascioliasis when a single dose has failed to cure them.