Raising pets and eating raw vegetables, many people are surprised to discover they are infected with parasites

Liver abscess due to parasitic infection

A young man, HNQ (20 years old), was admitted to the hospital with symptoms of persistent dull abdominal pain in the right hypochondrium and the doctor suspected a parasitic infection. Upon admission, the patient did not have a fever, but the liver ultrasound results showed many scattered liver abscesses, the largest of which was up to 30mm in size.

A doctor at the Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases is examining a patient infected with parasites due to the habit of eating raw vegetables (Photo: KT).

Blood tests showed an elevated white blood cell count, especially eosinophils. The doctor suspected a parasitic infection and performed diagnostic serological tests to look for antihelminth antibodies.

Test results showed that the patient was positive for three types of parasites, including large liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica), dog tapeworm (Toxocara canis) and strongyloides stercoralis.

Based on this result, Q was diagnosed with liver abscess due to parasitic infection and was prescribed a specific treatment regimen according to the guidelines of the Ministry of Health. The treatment process is expected to last 2-3 weeks.

Q said that he was in good health, occasionally ate raw vegetables and did not eat raw fish. Q did not have the habit of regularly deworming, which could be a risk factor for his current medical condition.

Also treated here, Mr. NVT (54 years old, Soc Son, Hanoi) was hospitalized with symptoms of dull abdominal pain in the right hypochondrium. When taking a medical history, the patient said that he occasionally ate raw salad. After examination and liver ultrasound, the doctor discovered many scattered liver abscesses, the largest of which was 38 x 26mm in size. The results of the blood test showed that Mr. T was positive for large liver flukes and dog and cat roundworms (Toxocara spp.).

A white blood cell test showed a slight increase in the patient's eosinophil count. The patient was diagnosed with a liver abscess due to a parasitic infection and was prescribed an appropriate treatment regimen. After a period of treatment, Mr. T's condition stabilized and his clinical symptoms were significantly reduced.

Ms. NL (65 years old, from Quang Ninh) is being treated here and was also found to have a parasitic infection due to taking care of pets. The patient was ordered to do tests and the results were positive for large liver flukes (Fasciola hepatica) and dog and cat roundworms (Toxocara spp).

Life-threatening if not treated early

Dr. Tran Duy Hung, Head of the Department of Viruses and Parasites, Central Hospital for Tropical Diseases, said: "The medical history of both patients shows that the living environment and living and eating habits play an important role in the transmission of the disease. There are many different factors here, from living conditions, living and eating habits, to the human living environment. The pathogens are also very diverse, including bacteria, parasites and environmental factors such as humidity and rain. Each factor has its own impact."

"For the two patients above, the abscesses were all up to 38 x 26mm in size, scattered throughout the liver. If not treated promptly, these abscesses can cause a series of dangerous consequences such as: Secondary infection, abdominal infection if the abscess ruptures into the abdomen; sepsis if bacteria from the abscess spread into the blood; liver failure, multiple organ failure if liver damage is severe and prolonged," Dr. Hung emphasized.

To prevent parasitic infections, Dr. Hung recommends that people pay attention to eating cooked food, drinking boiled water, washing their hands before eating, and especially limit eating raw foods such as raw vegetables, raw fish salad, sour meat... If you use raw vegetables, you must wash them thoroughly with clean water and rinse them under running water. In addition, periodic deworming every 6 months is very important to reduce the risk of parasitic infections. In particular, maintaining personal hygiene, such as washing hands before eating, after going to the toilet or coming into contact with soil. For families with dogs and cats, it is necessary to periodically deworm pets to prevent the risk of infection.

Source: https://www.baogiaothong.vn/nuoi-thu-cung-an-rau-song-nhieu-nguoi-ngo-ngang-phat-hien-nhiem-ky-sinh-trung-192250220144957686.htm