title: Hymenolepis diminutaInfection in a School Going Child: First Case Report from Uttarakhand.
abstract: Hymenolepis diminuta(H.diminuta) is prevalent worldwide, and a few hundred human cases have been reported till date. It is primarily a rodent parasite and humans (usually children) can act as accidental hosts. Infections are usually asymptomatic but abdominal pain, irritability, pruritis, mild diarrhoea and eosinophilia are among the existing symptoms in a few of the reported cases. Here, we report a case of an 11-year-old female child from Bijnor, who presented to us with complaints of abdominal pain, fatigue and irregular episodes of fever. Routine stool examination showed characteristic eggs ofH.diminuta. Patient was given a single oral dose of praziquantel (25 mg/kg) and she improved. This case is presented to emphasize that till date there are very few reports onH.diminutaand there is limited data regarding its treatment protocols (dose and duration). Furthermore, albendazole which is commonly used drug for deworming helminthic infections is less effective in these infections.
authors: Professor and Head, Department of Microbiology, AIIMS , Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India .
authors: Pratima
authors: P
authors: Gupta
authors: Senior Resident, Department of Microbiology, AIIMS , Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India .
authors: Priyanka
authors: P
authors: Gupta
authors: Assistant Professor, Department of Paediatrics, AIIMS , Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India .
authors: Bhanu Kiran
authors: BK
authors: Bhakri
authors: Additional Professor, Department of Microbiology, AIIMS , Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India .
authors: Neelam
authors: N
authors: Kaistha
authors: Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, AIIMS , Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India .
authors: Balram Ji
authors: BJ
authors: Omar
keywords: Praziquantel; Rat tapeworm; Rodent; Zoonosis