[Hepatic fasciolasis diagnosed in state phase].

BACKGROUND

Hepatic fasciolosis is a zoonosis that accidentally can invade the human.

METHODS

62 years old male, farmer, lives in a rural community in Tehuacan, Puebla, Mexico. His living space is not provided with running water nor drainage. He has contact with sheep and bovines. Started presenting symptoms two years before. Suffered from myalgia, joint pain, fever of 38 degrees C and epigastric pain that radiated the hypocondrium and the right shoulder. He had diarrhea five times in 24 hours as well as lack of appetite that lead to a weight loss of 20 kilograms in two years. He was hospitalized and the physical examination revealed diminished muscular mass, right hypocondrium pain and hepatomegaly of 3 cm below costal margin. He said he ate watercress (Nasturium officinalis) two or three times a week. Blood test revealed erythrocytes of 3.6 x 105 mm3; hemoglobin of 11.9 g/dL; hematocrit of 30%; leukocytes 8950 mm3; neutrophils 65%; lymphocytes of 30%; eosinophils of 3%; monocytes of 1% and basophiles of 1%. Globular sedimentation was 83 mm and hemoglobin concentration was 33. Liver test results were normal and mycobacterium in fecal samples was negative, but stool detection tests revealed eggs of Fasciola hepatica. The diagnosis was hepatic fasciolosis in its biliar stage. Dehidrohemetine (1.5 mg/kg) was administered during 10 days. Symptoms disappeared within 48 hours.

CONCLUSIONS

The lack of knowledge about fasciolosis makes it hard to diagnose it. The publication of case reports must help to facilitate its diagnosis.