Clinical Features:
The main symptoms are diarrhea and colicky abdominal pain.  Migration of the eggs to extraintestinal sites (heart, brain) can occur, with resulting symptoms.

Laboratory Diagnosis:
The diagnosis is based on the microscopic identification of eggs in the stool.  However, the eggs are undistinguishable from those of Heterophyes heterophyes and resemble those of Clonorchis and Opisthorchis.  Specific diagnosis is based on identification of the adult fluke evacuated after antihelminthic therapy, or found at autopsy.

Diagnostic findings

• Microscopy

Treatment:
Praziquantel* is the drug of choice.  See recommendations in The Medical Letter for complete information.

* This drug is approved by the FDA, but considered investigational for this purpose.