Gnathostomiasis (also known as larva migrans profundus: 436 ) is the human infection caused by the nematode (roundworm) Gnathostoma spinigerum and/or Gnathostoma hispidum, which infects vertebrates. Symptoms and signs
A few days after ingestion epigastric pain, fever, vomiting, and loss of appetite resulting from migration of larvae through intestinal wall to the abdominal cavity will appear in the patient. Migration in the subcutaneous tissues (under the skin) causes intermittent, migratory, painful, pruritic swellings (cutaneous larva migrans). Patches of edema appear after the above symptoms clear and are usually found on the abdomen. These lesions vary in size and can be accompanied by pruritus (itchy anus), rash, and stabbing pain. Swellings may last for 1 to 4 weeks in a given area and then reappear in a different location. Migration to other tissues (visceral larva migrans), can result in cough, hematuria (blood in urine), ocular (eye) involvement, meningitis, encephalitis and eosinophilia. Eosinophilic myeloencephalitis may also result from invasion of the central nervous system by the larvae. Causes
Human gnathostomiasis is infection by the migrating third-stage larvae of any of five species of Gnathostoma, which is type of worm (more specifically a type of nematode). The most common cause in Asia is G. spinigerum, and the most common cause in the Americas is G. binucleatum. G. hispidium and G. doloresi occur in East and Southeast Asia; the former has also been found in Eastern Europe. G. nipponicum occurs only in Japan and China. There is one unconfirmed report of G. malaysiae causing disease in humans.
Fibrosing colonopathy is a disease that arises in people with cystic fibrosis treated with high doses of pancreatic enzyme supplements. Symptoms are non-specific with abdominal pain, abdominal swelling, vomiting, and constipation.Risk factors include being young, prior surgery of the intestines, and the use of certain medications including corticosteroids and H2 blockers. It may appear similar to distal intestinal obstruction syndrome or inflammatory colitis such as Crohns disease.A maximum dose of 10,000 IU of lipase per kilogram per day is recommended for pancreatic enzyme supplementation to prevent this condition. More than 60 cases have been described as of 1999. The disease was suggested to be caused by methacrylic acid copolymer which is used as coating for delayed release of enzymes but there is no reliable evidence for that. == References ==