Successful Treatment of Fasciola hepatica with Metronidazole in a Child: A Case Report

Zeynep  Ergenc; Eda  Kepenekli; Nurhayat  Yakut; Ozge  Yapici; Utku  Batu; Engin Tutar

doi:10.18502/ijpa.v17i4.11288

Zeynep Ergenc Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Marmara University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
Eda Kepenekli Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Marmara University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
Nurhayat Yakut Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Marmara University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Tur-key
Ozge Yapici Department of Radiology, Marmara University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
Utku Batu Department of Pediatrics, Marmara University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
Engin Tutar Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Pediatrics, Marmara University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijpa.v17i4.11288

Keywords: Fasciola hepatica; Fascioliasis; Metronidazole; Triclabendazole

Abstract

Fasciola hepatica is a zoonotic liver trematode that usually causes infection in cattle and sheep, and is transmitted to humans by consuming water and aquatic plants contaminated with metacercaria. The detection of Fasciola eggs in stools, serological evaluation and radiological evaluation are essential for diagnosis. Triclabendazole is the first-line therapy for fascioliasis. However, as triclabendazole is not an easily accessible drug in countries such as Turkey, it reveals a quest for alternative therapies. In this report, we present a 10-year-old boy with fascioliasis successfully treated with a course of metronidazole 1.5 g/ day for 3 weeks in 2020. During the follow-up, eosinophilia and radiological findings completely recovered. Here we report a case of pediatric fascioliasis that was cured with metronidazole successfully.