The disease of fishermen or opisthorchias - what is it?

Opisthorchiasis is a fairly rare infectious disease, of which, perhaps, not everyone has heard. That is why it is necessary to answer the question of interest to many: "Opisthorchiasis - what is it?"

This infection is helminthiasis, which affects mainly the liver, is characterized by a prolonged course, proceeds with exacerbations and may contribute to the development of liver cirrhosis. It is the worm that causes opisthorchiasis. What it is, you can judge from a brief description: the cat dvuska has dimensions up to 13 mm, its eggs up to 0.03 mm have a lid.

The final hosts of the parasite or pathogens of infection are cats, dogs, foxes, humans. Intermediate hosts - mollusks, living in freshwater reservoirs, carp fish. Infection occurs during the consumption of fish that has not undergone a complete thermal treatment and contains live worm larvae. Often, the infection is observed in people working as fishermen, wood rafters.

How does the human body develop opisthorchiasis. What it is?

After swallowing, the larvae enter the small intestine and are released from their membranes. After 3-7 hours they begin to penetrate the bile ducts into the liver and pancreas. After 2 weeks, mature individuals are formed, which begin to secrete eggs.

The main in the development of the disease is the toxic effect of the products of vital activity of the fluke on the human body, which is accompanied by damage to the liver and a violation of the motility of the digestive tract. This contributes to the attachment of secondary infection, development of cholangitis, cholelithiasis, liver cirrhosis.

Clinic of infectious disease "opisthorchiasis"

What is it, especially at an early stage, is difficult to answer, since the disease is practically asymptomatic. 3-4 weeks after infection, patients experience malaise, fever, rashes, diarrhea, and liver pain. In the late stages of infection, cramping pains in the area of the gallbladder and liver, nausea, vomiting, headache, and sleep disturbance are noted. Externally, paleness and sub-type of skin and mucous membranes are noticeable. With palpation, you can determine the increase in the size of the liver, gall bladder, painful and enlarged pancreas.

Diagnostics

In the general blood test, hypereosinophilia is noted. When biochemical blood test revealed a violation of liver function. The analysis for opisthorchiasis involves the detection of helminth eggs in the contents of the duodenum and feces. The disease can be complicated by abscesses of the liver, cholangitis, peritonitis, rupture of the parasitic cyst, primary liver cancer. Opisthorchias have an adverse effect on the course of such infectious diseases as viral hepatitis, shigellosis, typhoid fever.

Treatment

When asked how to treat opisthorchiasis, there is a simple answer. The "Prazikventel" possesses high efficiency and low toxic effect. It is applied at 50 mg / kg once. You can apply "Chloksil" for 5 days to 60 mg / kg per day. Depending on the indications, it is advisable to apply pathogenetic and symptomatic treatment. Control of cure is carried out 2 months after the course of therapy.