title: A human case of Hymenolepis diminuta in a child from eastern Sicily.
abstract: We report a case of Hymenolepis diminuta infection in a 2-year-old child living in a suburban area of Catania, Italy. This case was initially referred to us as Dipylidium caninum infection, which was not cured after being treated twice with mebendazole. However, by analyzing the clinical presentation and stool samples we arrived to the diagnosis of H. diminuta infection. The case presented with atypical allergic manifestations which had never been reported as clinical features of symptomatic H. diminuta infection; remittent fever with abdominal pain, diffuse cutaneous itching, transient thoracic rash, and arthromyalgias. The patient was treated with a 7-day cycle of oral niclosamide, which proved to be safe and effective. This case report emphasizes that a correct parasitological diagnosis requires adequate district laboratories and trained personnel. In addition, we recommend the importance of reporting all H. diminuta infection cases, in order to improve knowledge on epidemiology, clinical presentation, and treatment protocols.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital of Catania, Catania 95100, Italy.
authors.forename: Ildebrando
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Patamia
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cappello
authors.forename: Donato
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Castellano-Chiodo
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Greco
authors.forename: Luciano
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nigro
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cacopardo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005243:Feces / Q000469:parasitology; D006801:Humans; D006925:Hymenolepiasis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D048190:Hymenolepis diminuta / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D009534:Niclosamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012802:Sicily; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D009534:Niclosamide