Baby girl has hundreds of tapeworm larvae stuck in her liver

The little girl had hundreds of tapeworm larvae clustered in her liver.

The number of children infected with parasitic worm larvae is increasing.

Patient Nguyen Thi Ngoc Thanh (12 years old, from Bac Ninh ) was diagnosed with liver fluke infection due to her habit of eating raw or undercooked food. About a month ago, the patient showed symptoms of fatigue, loss of appetite, fever, and prolonged severe abdominal pain. After intensive treatment by doctors, the patient's health has shown signs of recovery.

Patient Nguyen Thi Ngoc Thanh is being examined by a doctor. Photo: Reporters' team.

The patient stated that for many years, his family had been complacent, frequently eating vegetables grown in ditches and fields, sometimes bought from the market, and mostly consuming them raw.

Dr. Phan Thi Thu Phuong – from the Outpatient Department of Dang Van Ngu Hospital ( Hanoi ) – who received and monitored the treatment of this case, said that because the patient is only 12 years old, treatment must be very careful. When infected with liver flukes, the fluke larvae have invaded and destroyed liver function, weakening the patient's immune system and making them susceptible to dangerous complications.

Dr. Phan Thi Thu Phuong – Outpatient Department, Dang Van Ngu Hospital. Photo: Reporter Team.

"The incubation period of liver fluke infection depends on the number of larvae ingested and the host's response. For small liver flukes, symptoms only become apparent after an infection of over 100 flukes. Therefore, many people mistakenly believe it's a common illness, leading to complacency, and by the time they seek medical attention, the disease has already progressed to a more complex stage," emphasized Dr. Phan Thi Thu Phuong.

Similarly, patient Thao Vy (10 years old, from Nghe An province) also had her illness diagnosed late. Upon admission, the disease was already progressing in a complex manner, with her entire body, especially her face, forehead, and near her eyes, completely covered with dog and cat tapeworm larvae.

The image shows a doctor examining a patient. Photo: Reporters' Team

It is known that the patient's family keeps many dogs and cats, dozens of each. The patient and their family members have direct contact with the dogs and cats, and the patient particularly enjoys hugging and kissing them.

According to Doctor Phan Thi Thu Phuong: "Currently, many people enjoy keeping dogs and cats as pets, allowing them to eat, sleep, and live with them without proper hygiene measures, check-ups, or deworming. This leads to severe worm and parasite infections in dogs and cats, which can easily spread to humans, especially through hugging, kissing, and sleeping with them."

According to hospital statistics, in recent years, the number of hospitalizations due to parasitic infections has been increasing, not only among adults but also among children, who now have a high rate of parasitic worm infections with thousands of cases each year and the potential for many dangerous complications,” said Dr. Phuong.

To prevent liver fluke disease, canine roundworm, and other parasitic worm infections, doctors recommend that people eat cooked food and drink boiled and cooled water; wash hands before eating or after playing with dogs and cats; dispose of dog and cat feces in bags and throw them in the trash; and vaccinate and deworm pets regularly.

Furthermore, if signs of parasitic infection are detected in children, they should be taken for examination and treatment promptly to prevent recurrence and other complications.

Source: https://laodong.vn/suc-khoe/be-gai-bi-hang-tram-au-trung-san-bam-thanh-oo-gan-1388768.ldo