title: [Dipylidium caninum infection in an infant].
abstract: Dipylidium caninum, the dog tapeworm, is a common intestinal cestode of domestic dogs and cats, but few cases have been reported of human infection by this parasite in Japan. We repot a case of D. caninum infection in a 17 month-old girl, who sometimes had symptoms of abdominal pain, diarrhea, and dysphoria at night. Her mother noted the appearance of small white worms in her stool, and she was seen by a local pediatrician. Despite antiparasitic therapy wiht pyrantel pamoate, the problem persisted and was eventually referred for further workup to Kurume University Hospital. The diagnosis was made by microscopic examination of the excreted proglottids, which contained characteristic egg capsules. She was successfully treated with a singledose of praziquantel and four adult parasites were recovered. The longest intact worm was 32cm. Her family had household pets (a dog and a cat). The pets were seen by the local veterinary and both were evidenced D. caninum. Humans, primarily children, become infected when they accidentally ingest fleas. Parents usually find proglottids as multiple white objects, often described as cucumber, melon, or pumpkin seeds, in stool, diapers, or on the perineum. Most general practitioners and pediatricians may treat children with enterobiasis (pinworm) infection, and in case the treatment fails, other parasite infection should be considered such as this worm. A history of dog or cat pets, fleas, and flea bites may be important clues to diagnosis. Pets found to be infected should also be treated.
authors: Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Kurume University School of Medicine.
authors: Naoki
authors: N
authors: Tsumura
authors: Hiroyasu
authors: H
authors: Koga
authors: Hidenobu
authors: H
authors: Hidaka
authors: Fumiko
authors: F
authors: Mukai
authors: Masaaki
authors: M
authors: Ikenaga
authors: Yasushi
authors: Y
authors: Otsu
authors: Kenji
authors: K
authors: Masunaga
authors: Kensuke
authors: K
authors: Nagai
authors: Yutaka
authors: Y
authors: Yoneda
authors: Toshihide
authors: T
authors: Fukuma
authors: Koji
authors: K
authors: Ishimoto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic / Q000469:parasitology*; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002415:Cats; D002589:Cestoda / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002590:Cestode Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007411:Intestinal Diseases, Parasitic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D011223:Praziquantel / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D011223:Praziquantel