Fascioliasis is the parasitic infestation of the liver and biliary tract related to Fasciola hepatica.
Bithionol is proposed as the treatment of choice for human
fascioliasis without major side effects. However, the efficacy of
bithionol has been evaluated in chronic but not in acute
fascioliasis. In this study we report on the success of treatment with
bithionol in 10 patients with
fascioliasis, 8 having acute
fascioliasis. The criteria for the diagnosis of
fascioliasis were
hypereosinophilia, positive immunoelectrophoresis and indirect hemagglutination.
Bithionol was given orally to hospitalized patients at the daily dose of 25 mg/kg body wt for 10 days. Three patients with acute
fascioliasis received a second course of
bithionol 2 or 3 mo after the first because of the recurrence of
diarrhea and
fatigue in one patient and persistent
hypereosinophilia in two patients. All patients were cured. The follow-up period after the first course of treatment was between 16 and 47 mo. No major side effects were observed. We conclude that
bithionol is the
drug of choice for both acute and chronic
fascioliasis. Moreover, its
oral administration may allow treatment of
fascioliasis in outpatients who do not have serious symptoms.