The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics
2014 , Vol 56 , Num 3
Severe Iron Deficiency Anemia and Marked Eosinophilia in Adolescent Girls with the Diagnosis of Human Fascioliasis
1Division of Pediatric Hematology, Department of Pediatrics, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, 2Ankara Children’s
Hematology and Oncology Hospital, and 3Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Gazi University
Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. E-mail: tavil@hacettepe.edu.tr
Human fascioliasis (HF), caused by the common liver fluke Fasciola hepatica,
is an endemic infection in many parts of tropical countries. HF can also be
seen in some of the non-tropical countries. This report describes two girls
with severe iron deficiency anemia and eosinophilia, who were diagnosed
as HF. The infection was successfully eliminated with the administration of
triclabendazole. No side effects or recurrence was observed after the treatment.
It should be kept in mind that marked eosinophilia with severe iron deficiency
anemia should alert pediatricians to the possibility of F. hepatica infection.
Keywords :
Fasciola hepatica, iron deficiency anemia, eosinophilia, children.