Human Bertielliasis in Amazonia: Case Report and Challenging Diagnosis

摘要

In May, 2009, a 4-year-old girl from the town of Oriximiná, Pará state, Brazil, experienced 15 days of nocturnal abdominal pain, weight loss, abdominal distension, and the presence of “white worms” in the stool, but no diarrhea. At the local hospital, even though a conclusive diagnosis was not available, albendazole was prescribed for 5 days. Following this treatment, worms were still found in the patient's faeces, so the child was taken to the Tropical Medicine Nucleus of the Federal University of Pará (UFPA), where cestode infection was confirmed. This diagnosis was followed by a single oral dose of praziquantel (10 mg/kg).