Year
A 40-year-old woman presents with complaints of intermittent abdominal pain with loose stools for the past 4 months and unintentional weight loss of 4 kg over the past two months. She does not report presence of blood in her stools but gave a history of using untreated well water for drinking and cooking. The stool sample was sent to the laboratory for microscopic examination.
- What is the diagnosis?
- What is the mode of transmission?
- What is the treatment and prevention?
Case answer – Posted on: 27-Aug-2024
- What is the diagnosis?
Trichostrongylus spp. infection. The eggs are colourless, pointed at one pole and measuring about 75-95 um long x 40-50 um wide. The eggs contain segmented ovum with four or more blastomeres surrounded by thin egg shell. These eggs can be confused with hookworm ova which are smaller and have blunt poles. - What is the mode of transmission?
Humans become infected by ingesting L3 larvae from contaminated leafy vegetables and untreated water. - What is the treatment and prevention?
The recommended treatment regimen is Albendazole 400 mg once daily for 3 days. Nutritional support with iron supplements to address anaemia and increased calorie intake is recommended. Preventive measures include advising to wash vegetables thoroughly before consumption and discussing the importance of boiling or treating drinking water.