Symptoms and treatment of opisthorchiasis in adults and children
Opistorchosis is a parasitic disease that occurs when tapeworms enter the human body. These helminths affect the pancreas and liver. Opisthorchosis in children and adults is diagnosed in 2/3 of all cases of helminthic lesions.
Symptoms of opisthorchiasis
Often, the disease occurs in an asymptomatic form, and in this case it is very difficult to diagnose it - the patient does not feel pain and discomfort, helminths are detected accidentally during a routine or emergency examination. If the clinic is pronounced, then the first symptoms of opisthorchosis appear after 2-4 weeks from the moment of infection:
- increase in temperature, up to critical indicators;
- pronounced weakness, excessive sweating;
- nausea, which turns into vomiting (regardless of eating);
- regular headaches;
- pain, ache in muscles and joints.
If the disease proceeds in a severe form, then there will be vagueness of consciousness, delirium - the body reacts so acutely to the introduction of helminths into it. In most patients, the liver and spleen are significantly enlarged. In the absence of treatment, the bile ducts begin to become clogged with opisthorch, which leads to the rapid development of hepatitis and jaundice.
Symptoms of opisthorchosis in childhood manifest intensively, the disease proceeds in a severe form. In addition to the above symptoms, there may be severe pain in the right hypochondrium, which increases even with minor physical exertion.
Diagnostic measures
The standard diagnostic procedure includes:
- ultrasound examination of the liver and gallbladder with ducts;
- general blood test;
- biochemical analysis of blood.
The doctor will definitely conduct a survey of the patient and find out the level of risk of infection with this type of helminths. In addition, computer tomography may be prescribed, which will show enlarged liver and spleen, pancreas, dilated bile ducts and their blockage.
The most likely will be the analysis for opisthorchosis, which consists in the detection of helminth eggs in feces and the contents of the duodenum.
Treatment of opisthorchosis
After confirming the diagnosis, the doctor will prescribe therapy, the goal of which is to completely get rid of helminths. Treatment of opisthorchiasis involves the appointment of the following drugs:
- Hepatosol, Florenta, Ahillan is a preparatory stage of therapy, which ensures cleansing of the liver and gall bladder;
- Ecorsol, Toxidont-May, Populin, Hepatosol - directly affect helminths;
- Ahillan, Vitamix, Shirline — a restorative stage, during which the functionality of the liver and neighboring organs is normalized.
If the patient complains of severe pain in the right hypochondrium, which indicates spasms of the gall bladder, he is additionally prescribed No-shpa, Platyfilin. At the same time, antihistamine (antiallergic) drugs, calcium salts and vitamin-mineral complexes must be selected to strengthen immunity and support the body.
Treatment should take place under the supervision of a doctor, so it will be necessary to periodically conduct specific tests and determine the success of the therapy. Effectiveness is assessed by the complete absence of helminth eggs in feces and bile. A conclusion about complete recovery is made after 3-4 studies.
Possible complications
Opistorchosis in adults and children in the absence of treatment can lead to the development of complex, severe and life-threatening pathologies:
- liver abscess;
- oncology of the gallbladder and biliary tract;
- jaundice of the cholestatic type;
- cholangitis.
You can make an appointment with an infectious disease specialist and undergo an examination for the presence or absence of helminths on our website dobrobut.com
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