Infection by larvae of the dog / fox tapeworm
We formally apologize for this unappetizing case description. 59-year-old Donna Marcelina complained of increasing abdominal pain and general exhaustion. She instinctively felt that she urgently needed medical help.
The journey from the state of Cusco to the Diospi Suyana Hospital brought the long-awaited solution for the mother of three children. The examinations revealed a pronounced cyst infestation of the liver by echinococci. These are usually the larvae of the dog or fox tapeworm, which settle in the liver or other organs. The result is destruction of normal tissue and, if left untreated, death in up to 70% of cases.
However, there is hope for Marcelina. Dr. Lukas Steffen and Dr. Huibert de Vries removed the affected liver segments. After the operation, the patient will need long-term drug therapy to prevent a relapse. We wish the Quechua woman a speedy recovery.
