A human case of Echinostoma hortense infection diagnosed by endoscopy in area of southwestern Korea

Echinostomiasis is an endemic parasitic infection of humans in Korea, especially eastern areas. An Echinostoma infection was diagnosed by gastroduodenoscopy from a 75-year-old Korean female living in Hwasun-gun, Jeollanam-do. She complained of nausea, vomiting and epigastric pain that had persisted for 1 month. Two live worms were attached to the mucosal surface of the duodenal bulb area. After they were removed using an endoscopic forceps, the symptoms were gradually relieved. The worms were identified as Echinostoma hortense by egg morphology, visceral locations and tegumental ultrastructures. Microscopic examination of endoscopic biopsy specimens revealed infiltration by chronic inflammatory cells. In this case, the source of the infection was the loaches purchased from local fish markets located at Hwasun-gun. This is the 5th case of E. hortense infection diagnosed by endoscopy and the 1st case reported in area of southwestern Korea.

호남지역에서 내시경으로 진단된 호르텐스극구흡충 감염 1예

전라남도 화순군에 거주하며 미꾸리를 생식한 후 상복부통증, 구역, 구토를 주소로 내원한 75세의 여성 환자에게 내시경을 시행하여 십이지장 점막에서 극구흡충을 발견한 후 적출하였으며, 충란과 충체에 대한 다양한 형태학적 검사를 통해 호르텐스극구흡충증으로 진단하고, 본 증례가 갖는 의의를 문헌고찰과 함께 보고하는 바이다.