Diphyllobothriasis latum: the first child case report in Taiwan.
Diphyllobothriasis latum is an intestinal parasitosis caused by the ingestion of mostly raw fresh-water fish containing plerocercoids of Diphyllobothrium latum. We report an 8-year-old boy who came to our hospital with the complaint of a tapeworm hanging from the anus after defecation. The other symptom was mild abdominal cramping for a period of 1 year. The laboratory examination did not reveal anemia or vitamin B12 deficiency. Examination of gravid proglottids with rosette-like central uterus and typically operculated eggs of D. latum confirmed the diagnosis. The morphologic characters of proglottids and eggs size are compatible with D. latum. The patient had a history of eating uncooked fish for 1 year. Salmonids may be the infection source. He was treated with two doses of praziquantel and passed about 183 cm in length of all proglottids. There is a high prevalence of diphyllobothriasis latum in the northern temperate areas, but it is very rare in children. This patient is the first child case reported in Taiwan.
Chou
Hsiao-Feng
HF
Department of Pediatrics, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Taiwan.
Yen
Chuan-Min
CM
Liang
Wen-Chen
WC
Jong
Yuh-Jyh
YJ
D000818:Animals; D002648:Child; D004169:Diphyllobothriasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D004170:Diphyllobothrium / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D005399:Fishes / Q000469:parasitology; D016266:Food Parasitology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000627:therapeutic use
D011223:Praziquantel