Intestinal capillariasis is caused by a small trichurid nematode, Capillaria philippinensis, which infects freshwater fish as intermediate hosts and subsequently fish eating birds as definitive hosts. It has occurred in areas such as the Philippines and Thailand where people eat raw fish. We report an imported case of intestinal capillariasis in a 31-year-old Korean man who lived in Saipan for ten years. He suffered from diarrhea with weight loss, abdominal distension, and pitting edema in the lower extremities for two years. He ate raw freshwater fish in the Saipan 2 years ago.
The diagnosis was confirmed by jejunal biopsy. Flat mucosal surface without villi contained sections of numerous round worms with stichosome, larvae, and eggs which were identified as Capillaria philippinensis. The patient was successfully treated with albendazole.
This is a case report of idiopathic intestinal lymphangiectasia occurring in a 3-year-old boy. Idiopathic intestinal lymphangiectasia is believed to be a part of the generalized congenital disorder of lymphatic system. The present case revealed markedly ectatic lymphatics in the lamina propria of duodenal villi with lymphorrhagia.
Clinical features were typical of the protein-losing enteropathy; hypoalbuminemia, hypocalcemia, chylous ascites, edema of the lower extremities and mild lymphocytopenia.
This case indicates that serious protein loss may ensue, even in cases of intestinal lymphangiectasia without abnormalities of extraintestinal lymphatics.