Parasites that cause disease in the bile duct or liver are known as liver flukes. They are caused by eating contaminated watercress or eating raw, undercooked, dried, or pickled freshwater fish. They survive and grow in the liver after passing from the intestines to the bile ducts, according to the information supplied by the top liver transplant surgeon in India. Human liver flukes are classified into two families: Fasciolidae and Opisthorchiidae. 

These vary according to the stage of life and geographic location, and they respond to medical therapy in different ways. Fasciola belongs to the Fasciolidae family, while Opisthorchis and Clonorchis belong to the Opisthorchiidae family. This article discusses infection and its treatment in detail. Let’s take a look. 

Symptoms

A person with a liver fluke may not exhibit any symptoms at all, and in the worst of cases, the infection may only be discovered later. Some of the most common symptoms observed in human liver flukes are classified into two families: Fasciolidae and Opisthorchiidae. These vary according to the stage of life and geographic location of the patient and respond to medical therapy in different ways. Fasciola belongs to the Fasciolidae family, while Opisthorchis and Clonorchis belong to the Opisthorchiidae family.

Symptoms among those infected with the liver fluke are:

Pain in the abdomen

Feeling ill and uncomfortable all of the time

Diarrhoea

Vomiting

Nausea

Appetite loss and weight loss

Fever

Hives (lumps on the skin that are red and swollen)

Some rare symptoms of liker fluke disease are:

Bile duct cancer

Stone

Frequent infection in the biliary tract

How Is Liver Fluke Diagnosed?

Fluke infection is detected using one or more of the following laboratory tests and screenings:

Stool examination - Stool is checked for fluke eggs, which are normally discovered at a late stage. It is difficult to detect fluke infections early on, so alternative diagnostic procedures may be tried.

Blood Test - Fluke infection causes an increase in the number of white blood cells known as eosinophils in the blood. The increased count of these white blood cells in the blood sample is checked for liver fluke conformity.

Scan - Image testing such as ultrasonography, MRI, CT scan, ERCP, or cholangiography is used to determine if there are any abnormalities in the liver.

Treating Liver Fluke

Doctors recommend the following treatment for liver fluke, depending on the type of fluke parasite and the severity of the disease:

Patients are given oral drugs to treat liver fluke, which they normally respond well to.

Surgery may be recommended for chronic bile duct infection.

Goldenseal can be used to remove parasites, treat parasitic illnesses, and irrigate the colon.

Preventing Liver Fluke Infection

Because there is currently no vaccine that can completely remove the risk of liver fluke, prevention is the best cure. Consider the following preventative measures to avoid a liver fluke infection:

Cook freshwater fish and watercress to perfection. Freshwater plants and animals should not be eaten raw or undercooked.

When travelling, stay away from freshwater cuisine, especially from unsanitary locations or areas with low sanitation.

The doctor may recommend a liver transplant in extreme circumstances. This is the most reliable approach to determine whether or not the liver parasite has passed. You will be alleviated of the symptoms, but there is no guarantee that the condition will be resolved. Additional tests and diagnoses are performed to determine the specific issue and to aid in effective treatment. Thankfully, qualified laparoscopic doctors can now make short work of this. Take the essential precautions to ensure your health and longevity.