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Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.

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Intestinal capillariasis

Introduction

This page is about clinical aspects of the disease.  For microbiologic aspects of the causative organism(s), see Capillaria philippinensis.
Overview

Overview

Capillariasis is a disease in the group of helminthiasis diseases caused by the nematode Capillaria philippinensis.

Symptoms

Symptoms

A 16-year-old girl with a 2-month history of diarrhea, anorexia, bipedal edema and borborygmi found to have Capillaria infection in the Philippines

Symptoms in infested humans include watery diarrhea, abdominal pain, edema, weight loss, borborygmus (stomach growling), and depressed levels of potassium and albumin in the blood. In humans, the parasites damage the cells of the intestinal wall. This damage interferes with the absorption of nutrients and the maintenance of a proper electrolyte balance. Untreated C. philippinensis infestations are often fatal.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis

Diagnosis usually involves finding the eggs and/or adults of C. philippinensis in stool samples.

Treatment and prevention

Treatment and prevention

Anthelmintics such as mebendazole and albendazole have been reported to eliminate infestation of humans more effectively than thiabendazole.[1]

Prevention is as simple as avoiding eating small, whole, uncooked fish. However, in C. philippinensis endemic areas, such dietary habits are common and have been practiced for many generations.

Antimicrobial Regimen

  • Preferred regimen: Albendazole 400 mg/day PO for 10 days
  • Alternative regimen: Mebendazole 200 mg PO bid for 20 days
References

References

  1. ↑ Hwang, K.P., T.E. Wang, T.C. Liou, S.C. Lin, C.R. Kao, T.Y. Wang and K.K. Pang (2004) “Clinical features of human intestinal capillariasis in Taiwan.” World Journal of Gastroenterology 10(16):2391-2393.
  2. ↑ Cross, J. H. (1992-04). “Intestinal capillariasis”. Clinical Microbiology Reviews. 5 (2): 120–129. ISSN 0893-8512. PMC 358231. PMID 1576584. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ↑ Attia, Rasha A. H.; Tolba, Mohammed E. M.; Yones, Doaa A.; Bakir, Hanaa Y.; Eldeek, Hanan E. M.; Kamel, Shereef (2012-01). “Capillaria philippinensis in Upper Egypt: has it become endemic?”. The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 86 (1): 126–133. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.2012.11-0321. ISSN 1476-1645. PMC 3247121. PMID 22232463. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ↑ Gilbert, David (2015). The Sanford guide to antimicrobial therapy. Sperryville, Va: Antimicrobial Therapy. ISBN 978-1930808843.

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]