title: [Clinical and therapeutic behaviour of Fasciola hepatica in a series of 87 patients].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  in the last few years, the Incidence rate of fascioliosis caused by Fasciola hepatica has increased worldwide. Cuba is one of the countries that have reported sporadic cases and also some outbreaks of fasciolosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  to describe clinical and therapeutic features of this trematodiasis of digestive transmission found in 87 patients, who had been admitted to "Pedro Kourí" Institute of Tropical Medicine from January 1996 to December 2005.
  
  
  METHODS
  patients were divided into 2 groups according to the prescribed drug, that is, triclabendazole and dihydroemetine. The clinical variables were collected at the time of diagnosis and 90 days after treatment; the means and the standard deviation were estimated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  males was slightly predominant (54) in our series of patients admitted to the institute service. Consumption of watercress (Nasturtium officinale) was found in almost half of the patients. Abdominal pain, fever and malaise were the most frequent symptoms. Both drugs were useful to treat F. hepatica.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  this study showed the usefulness of lab tests for diagnosis and follow-up of patients after treatment. The anti-parasitic drugs dihydroemetine and triclabendazole proved to be effective at the prescribed doses in this research with minor adverse effects.
authors: Instituto de Medicina Tropical "Pedro Kourí", La Habana, Cuba. rene.diaz@ipk.sld.cu
authors: René
authors: R
authors: Díaz Fernández
authors: Madelyn
authors: M
authors: Garcés Martínez
authors: Leslie M
authors: LM
authors: Millán Alvarez
authors: Jorge
authors: J
authors: Pérez Lastre
authors: Juan Carlos
authors: JC
authors: Millán Marcelo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001562:Benzimidazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004640:Emetine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005211:Fascioliasis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000077682:Triclabendazole; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000871:Anthelmintics; D001562:Benzimidazoles; D000077682:Triclabendazole; C086742:dehydroemetine; D004640:Emetine