Risk of liver fluke infection from eating raw food
Fascioliasis is a type of leaf-shaped liver fluke that lives as a parasite mainly in buffalo, cows, dogs, cats, and snails. The larvae of the fluke often form cocoons on aquatic plants.
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Recently, Mr. PTM (30 years old, residing in Long Bien, Hanoi) was in completely normal health condition, went for a routine health check at Medlatec General Hospital and discovered a large liver fluke nest in his liver. According to the patient, he had a habit of eating hot pot, spring rolls, raw vegetables, and it is very possible that the flukes in the food had entered the liver and silently destroyed this important organ.
Fortunately, the patient went to the doctor and was discovered in time when the abscess was still small (3cm), so timely intervention was performed, helping to reduce dangerous complications such as abscess rupture, poisoning or cirrhosis, and the risk of liver cancer that is life-threatening.
Liver flukes are leaf-shaped worms. Liver flukes are divided into two groups: large liver flukes and small liver flukes (due to different sizes). Liver flukes usually live as parasites mainly in herbivores such as buffalo, cows... and also in dogs, cats, and snails.
The larvae of the parasite often form cocoons on aquatic plants such as watercress, spinach, Vietnamese coriander, water spinach... or through water sources contaminated with larvae, waiting for the opportunity to enter the human body. If a person uses (drinks raw water, eats raw vegetables, eats boiled snails) from water sources containing parasite larvae, there is a risk of being infected with liver fluke. Here, the larvae escape from the cocoon, penetrate the stomach wall and find their way to the liver, to the bile duct, where they locate and become adult worms.
Symptoms of liver fluke infection:
- Fatigue, mild fever, can be high fever or low fever continuously;
- Mild pain in the right hypochondrium;
- Sometimes there is a dull abdominal pain of unknown location. When going to the doctor, the liver will be found to be swollen and painful;
- Some cases of abnormal digestive disorders such as sudden loss of appetite and diarrhea;
- Others have skin allergies such as rashes on the thighs, buttocks, back...;
- Some patients have a persistent cough accompanied by chest pain.
People who regularly eat raw vegetables, spring rolls or have symptoms of suspected liver fluke infection should see a doctor immediately for treatment to avoid spreading and dangerous complications. Do not use common anti-helminthic drugs on your own.
The simplest way to prevent diseases caused by parasites is: eat cooked food, drink boiled water, practice personal hygiene and regularly deworm every 12 months; have regular health check-ups every 6 or 12 months at reputable medical facilities.