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Hepatic mite is a dangerous parasite-fluke that causes a parasitic disease in the body of humans and animals called fasciolosis. it usually lives in the host’s liver and bile ducts. leads to dangerous complications. What does hepatic fluke infection look like and what is the treatment of this parasitic disease?
Hepatic moth – characteristics
The hepatic mite is a fluke that reaches up to five centimeters in length. It settles in both humans and animals. It is leaf-shaped, its body is flattened, transparent and white and gray in color. On the outside, it has a cover and spikes. The outer sheath protects it from being digested in the host’s body, and the spikes allow it to be attached to the walls of the host’s internal organs. Flukes are most often found in the liver and bile ducts of the organism in which they parasite.
Liver mite – how can you get infected?
Snail and herbivorous cattle are an important mediator in the contamination process. The snail inhabiting wetlands and water reservoirs is an intermediate host for the butterfly larvae. When the larvae reach the next stage of development, they leave the snail and go outside to infect goats, sheep and other herbivorous mammals. It settles in the liver and bile ducts of animals, and its eggs are excreted along with their feces into the soil. People become infected by drinking contaminated water from lakes and streams, eating contaminated food and chewing blades of grass in a meadow.
Hepatic mite – symptoms
At first, fasciolosis produces symptoms that can be easily confused with poisoning, a cold or the flu. Often the disease develops asymptomatically. The most common symptoms in the early stages include:
- low-grade fever or fever (which usually goes away after a few days)
- itchy skin in the form of hives,
- stomach pain,
- indigestion,
- lack of appetite (often aversion to fatty foods),
- general weakness
- constipation and diarrhea alternately.
In the next stage, there are symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, enlarged liver, and even jaundice.
Hepatic moth – diagnosis
In order to diagnose liver fluke infection, a blood test for parasites, ESR, and the concentration of eosinophils and the level of liver transaminases should be performed. A stool test for parasites should also be performed. A stool test will only give a positive result 12-14 weeks after infection. Your doctor will order an ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI scan to get an accurate picture of the organs of the liver and bile ducts.
Hepatic moth – treatment
Treatment of fasciology is based on the administration of antiparasitic drugs in order to get rid of the flukes from the body. Medicines are taken at home. In exceptional circumstances, the patient is treated in a hospital. An important element supporting the antiparasitic treatment is taking natural herbal remedies such as: black walnut, clove oil, quinoa, milk thistle.
Hepatic moth – prophylaxis
In order to protect ourselves from infection with the liver fluke, we should follow some important rules. It is important to boil water from water reservoirs before consumption and before contact with food. Do not eat raw vegetables and fruits, as well as raw and uncooked meat.
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