Samer dbouk
Lebanese University, Lebanon
Scientific Tracks Abstracts: Ped Health Res
The global burden of Taenia saginata (T. Saginata), the beef tapeworm, includes economic loss, and its patho-Genicity is considered mild. T. Saginata can infect the human definitive host when people ingest larval cysts From raw or undercooked beef, as cattle are the intermediate host. This report is of a case of gastric perfora-Tion and pneumoperitoneum with regurgitation of T. Saginata in a 27-year-old Lebanese man, and includes a Review of previous cases of gastrointestinal perforation due to T. Saginata. Case Report: We report a rare case of stomach perforation caused by T. Saginata, in which the tapeworm was subsequently expelled orally. A computerized tomography (CT) scan was done, revealing pneumoperitoneum and abdom-Inal fluid, which was consistent with evidence of a perforated hollow viscus. Three days after exploratory lap-Aroscopy, the patient vomited a 3-meter tapeworm and the diagnosis was subsequently made. On the fourth Day, a CT scan of the abdomen with oral contrast was performed and showed no leakage. A clear fluid dietwas started on the fifth day. The patient was discharged home on the seventh postoperative day in good con-Dition. One week after the discharge, the patient was examined; he was in a good condition and symptomswere completely relieved 1 week after worm expulsion. Conclusions: This report shows that in countries or societies where eating raw beef is common, a diagnosis of infestation With T. Saginata should be considered in patients who present with gastrointestinal symptoms.
Samer dbouk is a Faculty of Medicine and head of general surgery in Lebanese University, Lebanon