An unexpected parasitic cause of hypereosinophilia: fascioliasis

Turk J Pediatr. 2011 Jan-Feb;53(1):111-3.

Abstract

A six-year-old boy from Eastern Anatolia was admitted to our outpatient clinic with abdominal pain and hyperleukocytosis. His leukocyte count was 50 x 10(9)/L with an 80% eosinophilia. Serological investigation was positive at a titration of 1/2560 for Fasciola hepatica. Hepatomegaly with linear hypoechogenic strains, which is typical for F. hepatica, was seen on abdominal ultrasonography. He was successfully treated with triclabendazole, 10 mg/kg/day. He is now under follow-up without any complaints. Hypereosinophilia mimicking leukemia is not an expected finding. To our best knowledge, high leukocyte count with F. hepatica in a child has not been reported in the literature until now.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Anthelmintics / therapeutic use
  • Benzimidazoles / therapeutic use
  • Child
  • Eosinophilia / parasitology*
  • Fascioliasis / parasitology*
  • Feces / parasitology
  • Humans
  • Leukocyte Count
  • Male
  • Triclabendazole

Substances

  • Anthelmintics
  • Benzimidazoles
  • Triclabendazole