Diphyllobothriasis Treatment & Management

  • Author: Derek Ryan Linklater, MD; Chief Editor: Burke A Cunha, MD   more...
 
Updated: Sep 26, 2008
 

Medical Care

Most patients with diphyllobothriasis, unless they have severe symptoms, can be safely treated as outpatients. Hospitalization is rare but may need to be considered in advanced, resistant, or complicated cases.

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Surgical Care

Diphyllobothriasis does not require surgical treatment.

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Consultations

Resistant or advanced cases of diphyllobothriasis may require consultation with a gastroenterologist and an infectious disease specialist.

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Diet

Less than 2% of patients with diphyllobothriasis develop anemia, even in the face of decreased vitamin B-12 levels. Vitamin supplementation may be required in severe cases.

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Activity

Persons with diphyllobothriasis require no activity limitations or restrictions.

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Contributor Information and Disclosures
Author

Derek Ryan Linklater, MD  Assistant Professor of Military and Emergency Medicine, F Edward Hebert School Of Medicine; Assistant Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine; Clinical Instructor of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine

Derek Ryan Linklater, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Emergency Medicine, American College of Emergency Physicians, and Society for Academic Emergency Medicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Coauthor(s)

Coburn H Allen, MD  Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Section of Emergency Medicine and Section of Infectious Diseases, Baylor College of Medicine; Consulting Staff, Texas Children's Hospital

Coburn H Allen, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American Academy of Pediatrics, Infectious Diseases Society of America, and Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Mark Raymond Wallace, MD  Infectious Disease Fellowship Director, Orlando Regional Healthcare; Clinical Professor of Medicine, Florida State University

Mark Raymond Wallace, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Physicians, American Medical Association, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, and Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD  Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Thomas M Kerkering, MD  Chief of Infectious Diseases, Virginia Tech, Carilion School of Medicine, Roanoke, Virginia

Thomas M Kerkering, MD is a member of the following medical societies: Alpha Omega Alpha, American College of Physicians, American Public Health Association, American Society for Microbiology, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, Infectious Diseases Society of America, Medical Society of Virginia, and Wilderness Medical Society

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Eleftherios Mylonakis, MD  Clinical and Research Fellow, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital

Eleftherios Mylonakis, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American College of Physicians, American Society for Microbiology, and Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Burke A Cunha, MD  Professor of Medicine, State University of New York School of Medicine at Stony Brook; Chief, Infectious Disease Division, Winthrop-University Hospital

Burke A Cunha, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Physicians, and Infectious Diseases Society of America

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

References
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  3. Hirata M, Yamaguchi Y, Ikei Y, et al. A case of Diphyllobothrium latum/nihonkaiense infection identified by capsule endoscopy in small intestine. Gastrointest Endosc. Jul 2006;64(1):129; discussion 130. [Medline].

  4. Butt AA, Aldridge KE, Sanders CV. Infections related to the ingestion of seafood. Part II: parasitic infections and food safety. Lancet Infect Dis. May 2004;4(5):294-300. [Medline].

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  9. Schantz PM. Tapeworms (cestodiasis). Gastroenterol Clin North Am. Sep 1996;25(3):637-53. [Medline].

  10. Tanowitz HB, Weiss LM, Wittner M. Diagnosis and treatment of intestinal helminths. I. Common intestinal cestodes. Gastroenterologist. Dec 1993;1(4):265-73. [Medline].

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  12. Wolfe MS. Eosinophilia in the returning traveler. Med Clin North Am. Jul 1999;83(4):1019-32, vii. [Medline].

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