Korean J Parasitol.  2010 Sep;48(3):225-229. 10.3347/kjp.2010.48.3.225.

Haplorchis taichui as a Possible Etiologic Agent of Irritable Bowel Syndrome-Like Symptoms

• Watthanakulpanich D
• Waikagul J
• Maipanich
• Nuamtanong S
• Sanguankiat S
• Pubampen S
• Praevanit
• Mongkhonmu S
• Nawa Y

• KMID: 1097485
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3347/kjp.2010.48.3.225

Abstract

The aim of this study is to clarify the clinical features of Haplorchis taichui infection in humans in Nan Province, Thailand, and to correlate the clinical features with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)-like symptoms. In this study area, only H. taichui, but neither other minute intestinal flukes nor small liver flukes were endemic. The degree of infection was determined by fecal egg counts and also by collecting adult worms after deworming. The signs and symptoms of individual patients together with their hematological and biochemical laboratory data were gathered to evaluate the relationship between the clinical features and the severity of infection. Special emphasis was made to elucidate the possible similarities of the clinical features of H. taichui infection and IBS-like symptoms. The results showed useful clinical information and the significant (> 50%) proportion of haplorchiasis patients complained of abdominal pain, lassitude, and flatulence, which were the important diagnostic symptoms of IBS. This study has reported a possible link between H. taichui and IBS, and H. taichui might probably play a role in the etiology of these IBS-like symptoms.

Keyword

Haplorchis taichui; clinical feature; irritable bowel syndrome-like symptom

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Animals
Child
Feces/parasitology
Female
Heterophyidae/*isolation & purification/physiology
Humans
Irritable Bowel Syndrome/*parasitology
Male
Middle Aged
Thailand
Trematode Infections/*parasitology
Young Adult