Clonorchiasis - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Clonorchiasis Definition

Clonorchiasis is an infection of the biliary system. Clonorchiasis may be caused by a worm named Clonorchis sinensis, or the Oriental liver fluke. Clonorchis sinensis affects the distal bile ducts after transmission by ingestion of raw, smoked, or undercooked fish. Sometimes bile duct carcinoma extension to the liver may lead to fatty changes and cirrhosis.

Clonorchiasis is found throughout East Asia and is chiefly responsible for the many patients with cholangiohepatitis seen in the Orient. Clonorchiasis is also called opisthorchis sinensis.

Clonorchiasis Causes

Humans may be infected after ingesting metacercariae in poorly cooked fish. The characteristic findings of clonorchiasis were diffuse, mild dilation of the small intrahepatic bile ducts, particularly in the periphery of the liver. Fluke infections are diseases of the digestive tract and other organ systems, tthat may be caused by several different species of Trematodes that have complex life cycles involving hosts other than human beings. Adult flukes can be survived for 20 to 25 years.

In human beings, fluke infections may be classified according to those diseases, that are caused by liver flukes and those caused by lung flukes.

Clonorchiasis Symptoms

The symptoms of fluke infection differ somewhat according to the type of fluke involved. Oriental liver flukes affect millions of people but only a small number experience symptoms. In chronic infections, chronic cholangitis may be associated with portal hypertension, cirrhosis, and atrophy of liver parenchyma.

The other symptoms of clonorchiasis may be included:

• fever
• chills
• anorexia
• diarrhea
• epigastric pain
• Abdominal pain
• Hepatomegaly

Advanced cases of clonorchiasis may be suffered permanent liver and pancreatic damage.

Diagnosis and treatment

Clonorchiasis Treatments

In case of clonorchiasis, liver and lung fluke infections may be treated with medications.

These may include:

• bithionol
• albendazole
• mebendazole
• triclabendazolepraziquantel

Some of the others treatments of the clonorchiasis may be included:

• Bithionol may also be available for clonorchiasis disease Control.
• If strongyloidiasis is suspected, empiric treatment should be given to the patient.
• Praziquantel can be an effective treatment at a dosage of 20-30mg per kg body weight of the person taking it, twice daily for three days.