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capillariasis
Etiology:
- infection with Capillaria, esp Capillaria philippinensis
Epidemiology:
1) nematode normally found in fish-eating birds
2) humans acquire infection by ingesting raw or incompletely cooked fish containing infective larvae
3) cases reported in Philippines, Thailand, Asia, Middle East, South America
Clinical manifestations:
1) asymptomatic
2) diarrhea
Laboratory:
1) passage of eggs, larvae & even adult worms in feces
2) diagnosis made by recovery of eggs in feces
a) 36-45 by 21 um
b) thick, radially striated shells & inconspicuous mucoid plugs
c) resemble those of Trichuris
Management:
1) antihelmintic agents
a) mebendazole
b) albendazole
2) severe infections may require hospitalization, supportive therapy & prolonged use of antihelmintic agents
General
helminth infection
References
- Clinical Diagnosis & Management by Laboratory Methods,
19th edition, J.B. Henry (ed), W.B. Saunders Co., Philadelphia,
PA. 1996, pg 1284
- Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 13th ed.
Isselbacher et al (eds), McGraw-Hill Inc. NY,
1994, pg 919