Prolonged fever due to parasites

Fever is a clinical sign indicating that there is a problem with internal health. There are many causes of fever. Prolonged fever caused by parasites is a common cause in all countries in general and Vietnam in particular. If not treated promptly, it will lead to many dangerous complications, so patients need to go to medical facilities for timely examination and treatment.

Parasitic infections are one of the most common causes of persistent fever in adults.
Prolonged fever caused by parasites causes the patient to have sudden high fevers, lasting in episodes. Malaria or intestinal-related diseases is a common disease with prolonged fever caused by parasitic infections, in which fever caused by intestinal disease causes the patient to show signs of chills and prolonged chills.

Due to Vietnam's hot and humid climate, it is very suitable for parasites to thrive. The foods that are loved by many Vietnamese people are undercooked, raw or rare, such as beef, peach omelette, raw vegetables, frog meat, snails, blood pudding, sushi, unwashed vegetables, etc. There are many helminthic pathogens. If you eat an animal containing the fluke, you will be infected with the parasite.

Large liver fluke:
Caused by eating raw vegetables under water such as spinach, watercress,...
Drinking unboiled water infected with tapeworm larvae
The disease starts slowly, the patient has Symptoms of fever are unusual, each person will have different symptoms. There may be a high fever accompanied by chills or a fever that is only transient and then goes away on its own, sometimes a prolonged fever, accompanied by fever, is abdominal pain, digestive disorders such as bloating, loss of appetite, coughing a lot at night, difficulty breathing,...
Lung fluke:
Caused by eating shrimp, freshwater crab infected with undercooked lung fluke cyst larvae. There may be symptoms of high fever or no fever. not boiled.
In addition, hookworms, roundworms, pinworms, intestinal strongyloides,... are also common disease-causing parasites.

To determine whether a prolonged fever is caused by a parasitic infection, there are usually 2 methods: Clinical diagnosis and laboratory diagnosis.
Clinical diagnosis:
Based on the specific symptoms the patient has, the doctor will make a diagnosis. However, high fever or digestive disorders can also be caused by other diseases, so the clinical diagnosis cannot be completely accurate. Therefore, it is necessary to appoint more testing for parasites through the specimen.
Diagnostic tests:
Peripheral cytology on blood smears can detect parasites in the blood such as: Malaria parasites, lymphatic filariasis... Serum immunoassay in blood Scanning patient's stool to find protozoa, larvae of strongyloides, helminths Histopathological examination: biopsy is also a method to help detect some pathogenic parasites such as group of pig tapeworms, tapeworms cows... Fresh microscopic examination or PCR can detect parasites in: biological fluids, waste, pus, vomit... Tests from keratinocytes such as through nails, skin scales ,... In addition, it is possible to rely on a number of other tests to support the most accurate diagnosis of parasitic diseases such as: total analysis of peripheral blood cells, liver enzymes, total urinalysis,. ..

Do not eat raw food, cook it again. Eat cooked, drink boiled. Parasites are very sensitive to high environments such as temperature and light. Parasites will be killed when heated at a temperature above 70 degrees C. Clean house, clean water source,... Preserve food with food wrap, cover food,... Wash your hands before and after preparing food, before and after eating Keep cooking surfaces dry and clean When there is a sign of persistent high fever along with other accompanying symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain or malaria, ... it is necessary to quickly bring the patient to the nearest medical facility for timely examination and treatment. Vinmec International General Hospital with a system of modern equipment meeting international standards along with a team of highly qualified doctors and nurses with many years of experience, when there is a need for consultation and examination at other hospitals. Hospitals and clinics of Vinmec Health system nationwide, please contact the Website for the best service.