An unhealthy holiday on Lake Bolsena
A 70-year old man (OL) was hospitalized due to fever (up to 40°C) associated with malaise and abdominal pain. Tests showed hypereosinophilic syndrome, and increased liver and inflammation indexes. Abdominal echography showed a nonhomogeneous liver and the spleen was enlarged. Abdominal computed tomo...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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PAGEPress Publications
2013-03-01
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| Series: | Italian Journal of Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.italjmed.org/index.php/ijm/article/view/83 |
| _version_ | 1797425169729323008 |
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| author | Lucio Brugioni Maurizio Tognetti Cristina Gozzi |
| author_facet | Lucio Brugioni Maurizio Tognetti Cristina Gozzi |
| author_sort | Lucio Brugioni |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A 70-year old man (OL) was hospitalized due to fever (up to 40°C) associated with malaise and abdominal pain. Tests showed hypereosinophilic syndrome, and increased liver and inflammation indexes. Abdominal echography showed a nonhomogeneous liver and the spleen was enlarged. Abdominal computed tomography showed multiple abscesses on the liver. The patient reported that he had recently gone on holiday to Lake Bolsena where he had eaten raw fish. A specialist in infectious diseases confirmed that in that area there is an infestation of <em>Opisthorchis felineus</em>. Analysis of blood and stool samples confirmed the presence of this parasite. The patient was treated with praziquantel with resolution of fever and improvement in clinical tests and general condition. <em>Opisthorchis felineus</em> is a parasite that commonly infects dogs and cats. Infection is sometimes transmitted to man and is usually related to eating raw fish. The parasite enters the liver and its eggs are found in the patient’s stool samples. Acute symptoms are: fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and malaise. Hypereosinophilic syndrome and increase in liver index are typical. Chronic infection could result in cholangiocarcinoma. Presence of the parasite is confirmed through specific analysis of blood and stool. Therapy consists of praziquantel or, as second choice, abendazol. In the 20th century, there were 4 epidemics in Italy, on Lakes Trasimeno and Bolsena in Central Italy. The latest epidemic was reported in that area in summer 2012. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T08:12:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-028ddfa7c9c04f87bed45063ac6eb409 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1877-9344 1877-9352 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T08:12:11Z |
| publishDate | 2013-03-01 |
| publisher | PAGEPress Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Italian Journal of Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-028ddfa7c9c04f87bed45063ac6eb4092023-12-02T23:06:42ZengPAGEPress PublicationsItalian Journal of Medicine1877-93441877-93522013-03-0171394210.4081/itjm.2013.3974An unhealthy holiday on Lake BolsenaLucio Brugioni0Maurizio Tognetti1Cristina Gozzi2Medicina Interna ed Area Critica, AOU Policlinico di ModenaMedicina Interna ed Area Critica, AOU Policlinico di ModenaMedicina Interna ed Area Critica, AOU Policlinico di ModenaA 70-year old man (OL) was hospitalized due to fever (up to 40°C) associated with malaise and abdominal pain. Tests showed hypereosinophilic syndrome, and increased liver and inflammation indexes. Abdominal echography showed a nonhomogeneous liver and the spleen was enlarged. Abdominal computed tomography showed multiple abscesses on the liver. The patient reported that he had recently gone on holiday to Lake Bolsena where he had eaten raw fish. A specialist in infectious diseases confirmed that in that area there is an infestation of <em>Opisthorchis felineus</em>. Analysis of blood and stool samples confirmed the presence of this parasite. The patient was treated with praziquantel with resolution of fever and improvement in clinical tests and general condition. <em>Opisthorchis felineus</em> is a parasite that commonly infects dogs and cats. Infection is sometimes transmitted to man and is usually related to eating raw fish. The parasite enters the liver and its eggs are found in the patient’s stool samples. Acute symptoms are: fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and malaise. Hypereosinophilic syndrome and increase in liver index are typical. Chronic infection could result in cholangiocarcinoma. Presence of the parasite is confirmed through specific analysis of blood and stool. Therapy consists of praziquantel or, as second choice, abendazol. In the 20th century, there were 4 epidemics in Italy, on Lakes Trasimeno and Bolsena in Central Italy. The latest epidemic was reported in that area in summer 2012.http://www.italjmed.org/index.php/ijm/article/view/83Opisthorchis felineus, fever, hypereosinophilia, liver abscess. |
| spellingShingle | Lucio Brugioni Maurizio Tognetti Cristina Gozzi An unhealthy holiday on Lake Bolsena Italian Journal of Medicine Opisthorchis felineus, fever, hypereosinophilia, liver abscess. |
| title | An unhealthy holiday on Lake Bolsena |
| title_full | An unhealthy holiday on Lake Bolsena |
| title_fullStr | An unhealthy holiday on Lake Bolsena |
| title_full_unstemmed | An unhealthy holiday on Lake Bolsena |
| title_short | An unhealthy holiday on Lake Bolsena |
| title_sort | unhealthy holiday on lake bolsena |
| topic | Opisthorchis felineus, fever, hypereosinophilia, liver abscess. |
| url | http://www.italjmed.org/index.php/ijm/article/view/83 |
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