Liver Fluke Treatment

Liver flukes are parasitic flatworms that live in the bile ducts of humans, dogs, and livestock. They feed on the nutrients in the bloodstream which they absorb through their skin. Liver flukes can cause jaundice, liver cancer, and other organ injury.

Infection

• You can be infected with the sheep liver fluke by eating fluke eggs on freshwater plants like bamboo shoots and watercress. You can be infected with the Chinese liver fluke by eating undercooked fish containing fluke eggs.

Damage

• Once ingested, eggs hatch into larvae that bore through the liver, often causing fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and vomiting for months. Adult flukes live in the bile ducts and can create swelling and obstructions.

Chinese Liver Fluke

• The primary pharmaceutical treatment for Chinese liver fluke is the drug Praziquantel, administered three times a day for two days, according to Stanford University researchers.

Sheep Liver Fluke

• According to the Centers for Disease Control, one to two administrations of Triclabendazole, Bithionol, or Nitazoxanide are the recommended treatment for sheep liver fluke in humans.

Prevention

• Proper food preparation usually destroys liver fluke eggs. Cook fish to 145 degrees Fahrenheit, eat sushi at a reputable, certified restaurant, and purchase fresh greens from a rigorously inspected grocery outlet.