Human intestinal capillariasis (Capillaria philippinensis) in Taiwan

A human case of intestinal capillariasis was first recognized in the Philippines in the mid-1960s. The parasitosis is a life threatening disease and has been reported from Thailand, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Iran, and Egypt. Clinical symptoms include diarrhea, abdominal pain, borborygmi, marked weight loss, protein and electrolyte loss, and cachexia. Capillariasis may be fatal if treatment is not given early. We observed 7 cases living in the more rural areas of Taiwan. Two cases had histories of travelling to Thailand. These two cases might have been infected in Thailand while stayed there. The other 5 cases didn't have histories of going abroad. According to the route of transmission, freshwater and brackish-water fish may act as the intermediate host of the parasite. People who like to eat raw fish, and have had long term diarrhea with abdominal pain and borborygmi, capillariasis philippinensis should be highly suspected. The most simple and convenient method of diagnosing capillariasis is stool examination. Treatment with mebendazole or albendazole for 20 - 30 days is known to be effective. All 7 cases we observed were cured through adequate treatment with anthelmintics and general management. A case, found in Kaohsiung Medical College Hospital in 1983, may be the first case in Taiwan.