Echinococcosis of the liver (echinococcal liver disease) is a parasitic infection of the liver with the formation of helminthic cysts. The causative agent of the disease is a ribbon echinococcus worm, which penetrates the body by the oral route, spreading through the blood through all organs, most often localized in the liver.
The most common liver echinococcosis in livestock regions (Yakutia, Siberia, Omsk, Tomsk, Novosibirsk, Crimea, Georgia, Central Asia, Kazakhstan, etc.). The main source of infestation is hunting dogs, as well as agricultural animals (pigs, sheep, cows, horses, etc.). With the feces of animals, mature eggs of echinococci are released into the environment, including contaminating their wool. A person can become infected by contact with sick animals, by harvesting berries and herbs, drinking water from egg-contaminated parasite sources.
Classification of liver echinococcosis
There are the following types of echinococcosis in terms of the degree of liver damage and structure:
- Alveolar (multi-chambered) - characterized by extensive liver damage.
- Bubble (single-chambered) - characterized by the formation of a cyst in the form of a bubble, placed in a shell, in which nest brood capsules.
The localization of liver echinococcosis is:
- anterior (with progression the area of the liver becomes accessible by palpation);
- Downward (located closer to the abdominal cavity);
- ascending (similar to exudate pleurisy).
Symptoms of liver echinococcosis
For several years the patient may not even suspect of infection, because there are no clinical manifestations until the cyst grows sufficiently. The pathogenic formation, increasing, squeezing the adjacent organ, causes the appearance of toxic-allergic reactions to the presence of the parasite and the products of its vital activity.
In the future, the following symptoms appear:
- general weakness;
- unsharp pain, a feeling of heaviness in the subcostal area of the right and epigastric part;
- diarrhea;
- urticaria ;
- jaundice;
- abdominal dropsy;
- flatulence.
With the breakthrough, the cysts of its contents penetrate the abdominal cavity, blood vessels, into the pleural cavity, and the bronchi. As a result, severe peritonitis, pleurisy, gastric obstruction, anaphylactic shock can develop. The risk of rupture of the cyst, as well as suppuration increases in the event of death of the parasite. When suppuration is observed, intense pain, increased liver, high body temperature, signs of intoxication.
Diagnosis of liver echinococcosis
To diagnose this helminthiasis apply:
- a study of blood for eosinophilia;
- the Katsoni test;
- serological examination for the detection of antibodies to Echinococcus IgG classes;
- radiography;
- radioisotope hepatoscanning;
- ultrasonography;
- computed tomography , etc.
If a liver echinococcosis is detected on the liver, puncture examination of the cysts is unacceptable.
Treatment of liver echinococcosis
The main way to treat liver echinococcosis is surgical (operation). The removal of parasitic cysts followed by
If the disease is detected in the early stages and, conversely, if it is not possible to carry out the operation as a result of a massive lesion, antiparasitic conservative treatment is prescribed. Symptomatic therapy is also performed depending on the symptoms.
Treatment of echinococcosis of the liver with folk remedies is ineffective and unacceptable.