Parasitic Infections From Seemingly Harmless Daily Habits

A 38-year-old female patient came to MEDLATEC General Hospital for a health check and was suddenly diagnosed with a parasite that needed immediate treatment to avoid unpredictable complications.

Shocked to discover disease while healthy

That was the case of Ms. NTH, 38 years old, living in Hanoi, who came to MEDLATEC General Hospital for a routine health check-up. During this examination, Ms. H. was ordered to have an abdominal ultrasound and basic blood tests.

Parasitic infections, if not detected and treated promptly, can cause dangerous complications such as acute cholangitis, liver abscess, cholecystitis, and subcapsular hematoma.

Ms. H. said that she sometimes had heaviness in both calves, had a habit of eating raw vegetables and was often in contact with cats and dogs, but otherwise did not show any signs of discomfort.

The doctor examined Ms. H.'s whole body and organs and found no abnormalities. Ultrasound showed liver damage, and tests showed increased bilirubin and eosinophil levels.

The test for worms showed positive results for roundworms, roundworms, strongyloidiasis, dog and cat roundworms, large liver flukes and small liver flukes. Therefore, the doctor advised Ms. H. to have an MRI and CT scan to assess liver damage.

MRI scan detected many nodular lesions and localized masses in the liver (mainly right liver), spleen, and left lung base (monitoring parasitic lesions).

At the same time, CT scan recorded scattered bilateral lung parenchymal lesions (monitoring nonspecific inflammatory lesions), mediastinal lymph nodes, and hypodense nodules in the liver and spleen.

The results of the scan showed that the patient had lesions in the liver, spleen, and lungs, and the test results were positive for parasitic worms, so the diagnosis was confirmed as liver, spleen, and lung lesions due to parasites.

After that, the patient was consulted and treated as an outpatient at the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases to avoid possible unpredictable complications.

Dr. Ngo Chi Cuong, Head of Internal Medicine Department, MEDLATEC General Hospital, Head of Infectious Diseases Department - MEDLATEC Healthcare System said that if parasitic infection is not detected and treated promptly, the disease can cause dangerous complications such as acute cholangitis, or liver abscess, cholecystitis, subcapsular hematoma.

However, this patient was very lucky that during a routine check-up, a hidden illness was accidentally discovered and treated promptly.

In Ms. H's case, according to experts, the cause of the parasite infection may be due to her daily habit of eating raw vegetables and frequent contact with cats and dogs.

Also having the habit of playing and sleeping with pets, but never deworming, male patient NBĐ. (55 years old, in Bac Giang) came to MEDLATEC General Hospital for examination with many red papular rashes scattered all over his body.

This patient went to see a dermatologist and took prescription medication for three courses, but the disease was not completely cured.

How to prevent disease?

Worried that the itching symptoms would continue to recur, even after treatment, the patient decided to go to MEDLATEC General Hospital for examination and was shocked to learn that the culprit causing the itching was the pet kept in the house.

To avoid getting worms from daily eating and living habits, experts advise people to take the following preventive measures: Practice the habit of eating cooked food and drinking boiled water; limit eating on the sidewalk and at street vendors;

Do not eat salads, vegetables, fish, rare meat, or sour meat of unknown origin; maintain personal hygiene, trim fingernails neatly, do not let children get into the habit of sucking their fingers, and wash hands thoroughly before eating;

Wash your hands after playing with pets or after being exposed to potentially infected areas; Clean and dispose of pet feces immediately to prevent eggs from infected animals;

Clean in the right place, do not use fresh manure to fertilize vegetables, should fertilize plants when the manure has been composted.

Parasitic diseases often have vague, nonspecific signs, or may appear with unpleasant symptoms such as fatigue, allergies, red rash, muscle aches, muscle pain, bloating, pale body...

Because the signs are non-specific, they are easily overlooked. Therefore, when abnormal signs appear or there are high risk factors, the patient needs to go to a medical facility immediately for accurate examination and screening.

Normally, to diagnose parasites, people may be assigned to do one of the following tests and techniques: abdominal ultrasound: This is the first imaging diagnostic technique to detect worms. Blood test: Determines whether or not there are parasites such as roundworms, pork tapeworms, and filariasis.

Stool examination: Detects protozoans, strongyloides, and tapeworms. Histopathological examination: Biopsy can detect some parasites such as pork tapeworm, beef tapeworm, etc.

Examination on peripheral blood smears can detect blood parasites (if any) such as malaria parasites, lymphatic filariasis, etc.

Fresh examination or PCR test is used to detect some types of parasites in some types of specimens such as biological fluids, waste, pus, vomit...

Fresh examination of keratinocytes (nails, skin scales…). Other specialized imaging techniques such as CT, MRI.

In particular, Dr. Tran Thi Thu, a specialist in the hospital's Diagnostic Imaging Department, emphasized the indispensable role of specialized imaging techniques such as MRI and CT in guiding diagnosis, assessing stages and controlling disease-causing complications.

Source: https://baodautu.vn/nhiem-ky-sinh-trung-tu-thoi-quen-tuong-chung-vo-hai-hang-ngay-d218485.html