Although small in size, the presence of liver worms should not be underestimated. This parasite can infect the liver, gallbladder, bile ducts, and cause various complications. Therefore, consider the following explanation to be aware of the dangers of heartworm infection.
Heartworm infection usually occurs after eating food contaminated with liver fluke larvae. After the food is digested, the larvae will move from the intestines to the bile ducts in the liver to breed.
Recognize the Types of Heartworms
There are 2 types of liver worms that can enter the body and cause disease in humans, namely: opisthorchiidae and fasciolidae
Opisthorchiidae
Types of worms opisthorchiidae There are 2 species that most often cause liver fluke infection, namely: Clonorchis sinensis commonly found in China and Opisthorchis viverrini commonly found in Southeast Asia.
Liverworm infection of the two species above can occur after consuming fish, crabs, shrimp, which are undercooked and contaminated by worm larvae. If left untreated, these infections can last up to 25–30 years.
Fasciolidae
Worm fasciolidae is the most common type of liver fluke that infects the body. This type of worm is found on almost all continents, except Antarctica. Heartworm infection fasciolidae usually occurs after eating watercress or other aquatic plants contaminated with liver fluke larvae from sheep or cow dung.
Various Symptoms of Heartworm Infection
The following are various symptoms of heartworm infection that need to be recognized:
- Stomach ache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Decreased appetite
- Fever
Over time, the larvae of worms in the bile ducts of the liver will become adult worms and block the bile ducts. This causes yellow discoloration of the skin and the whites of the eyes, itching, diarrhea, and weight loss.
If left untreated for a long time, liver fluke infection can lead to complications, such as gallstone formation, pancrearitis, bile duct infections, and even bile duct cancer (cholangiocarcinoma).
Handling Heartworm Infection
To confirm the diagnosis, the doctor will ask questions about the complaints experienced, medical history, and patient hygiene, as well as perform a physical examination. In addition, the doctor also requires several supporting examinations, such as:
- Examination of stool samples, to see the presence of liver fluke eggs in the feces
- Complete blood count, to check for antibodies to liver flukes
- Radiological examination, to check for damage to the liver and bile ducts associated with liver flukes
After the diagnosis is determined, then the doctor can perform several treatments as follows:
Drugs
Prescribing drugs that are tailored to the type of liver fluke infection. The goal of this treatment is focused on eliminating liver worms from the body. Some of the liver fluke infection drugs that doctors usually prescribe are:
- Triclabendazole, for fascioliasis infections.
- Praziquantel or albendazole, for clonorchiasis infection.
- Corticosteroids for patients with severe symptoms.
Operation
Surgical procedures are sometimes necessary if the liver fluke blocks the bile duct or the patient has long-term complications, such as bile duct infection or bile duct cancer.
Heartworm infection begins with an unhygienic lifestyle. Although the cause is simple, the disease caused by heartworms can be very complicated and dangerous. Therefore, it would be better if liver fluke infection was prevented from the start.
As a preventative measure from heartworm infection, the important thing you need to remember is to make sure all the food you eat is cooked thoroughly, especially for freshwater fish, crabs, shrimp, and watercress. In addition, avoid drinking river water or water with poor sanitary conditions.
If you experience some symptoms of a liver worm infection, especially after eating undercooked fish or watercress, you should immediately consult a doctor to get the right treatment.