Teniasis disease (fasciolopsis) is an intestinal parasitic infection caused by the Chinese Taxillus Herb (Fasciolopsis buski) in the human duodenum. The eggs of the fluke develop into cercariae in water and within planorbid snails, then attach to aquatic plants such as water caltrop, wild rice stem, water chestnut, and lotus rhizome nodes to form metacercariae. Humans become infected by consuming these foods raw. The main symptoms include abdominal pain, diarrhea, malnutrition, and anemia.

bubble_chart Epidemiology

From endemic areas with a history of consuming raw aquatic plants such as water caltrop, water bamboo shoots, water chestnut, and lotus rhizome nodes.

bubble_chart Clinical Manifestations

Mild cases often present with loss of appetite, abdominal pain, diarrhea, indigestion, and grade I anemia. Severe cases exhibit worsened abdominal pain and diarrhea, which may alternate with constipation, along with frequent nausea, vomiting, abdominal distension and fullness, borborygmus, ascites, and intestinal bleeding. Prolonged illness leads to emaciation, lack of strength, lethargy, edema, hepatomegaly, more severe anemia, and multiple vitamin deficiencies. A mass of parasites can cause intestinal obstruction. Chronic infection in children may impair growth and development, resulting in dwarfism.

bubble_chart Auxiliary Examination

1. Blood routine examination: Red blood cells and hemoglobin may decrease, with an increase in eosinophils.
2. Stool examination: Eggs or adult worms may be detected.

bubble_chart Treatment Measures

(1) General Therapy

Strengthen nutrition, correct anemia, and transfuse blood if necessary to enhance constitution.

1. Praziquantel: The drug of choice, with a dose of 10–20 mg/(kg·d), taken twice daily before meals for 1 day.
2. Bithionol: The dose is 50 mg/(kg·d), administered once nightly as a draught, with a treatment course of 1–2 days.
3. Furapromide: The dose is 40–60 mg/(kg·d), with a maximum dose not exceeding 2 g, divided into 3–4 oral doses, and a treatment course of 2 days.
4. Areca Seed Decoction: For children under 6 years old, take 30–40 g each time; for those over 6 years old, take 50 g each time. Areca Seed is decocted with water to 100–150 ml and taken once on an empty stomach in the morning. If no bowel movement occurs within 2–4 hours after administration, 50% magnesium sulfate can be taken as a laxative. Fresh Areca Seed is particularly effective.

bubble_chart Prevention

1. Conduct health education to promote the thorough cooking of aquatic plants.
2. Provide thorough treatment for patients.
3. Implement proper fecal management.
4. Eliminate planorbid snails.