Figure 1: adult worm
Intestinal Capillariasis is a nematode parasitic infection
resulting from ingestion of infected raw fish containing infective larvae.
Capillariasis manifests as abdominal pain, watery diarrhea, and progressive weight loss.
Progressive autoinfection, as eggs hatch before leaving the intestine, can lead to heavy infection burdens.
The resulting symptoms of protein-losing enteropathy and severe malabsorption can lead to cachexia or death if the infection is left untreated.
The infection is treated with antihelmintic agents, typically mebendazole or albendazole.
Infection can be prevented by avoiding eating small uncooked fish.
biological agent history & epidemiology life cycle & transmission clinical presentation diagnosis treatment & prevention