Diagnosis of Human Visceral Pentastomiasis
2009

Diagnosis of Human Visceral Pentastomiasis

publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Dennis Tappe, Dietrich W. Büttner

Primary Institution: Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Germany

Conclusion

Visceral pentastomiasis is often misdiagnosed as malignancy due to its variable clinical symptoms and the rarity of serological tests.

Supporting Evidence

  • Most human infections are asymptomatic and may be found incidentally during medical consultations or autopsies.
  • The disease is rare in Europe and North America, primarily affecting immigrants from endemic regions.
  • Diagnosis is mainly based on histopathological examination due to the absence of reliable serological tests.

Takeaway

Visceral pentastomiasis is a disease caused by parasites that can make people very sick, but many people don't show any symptoms at all.

Methodology

The diagnosis often relies on histopathological examinations due to the lack of available serological tests.

Limitations

The study is limited by the rarity of the disease in non-endemic areas, making it difficult to gather large sample sizes.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pntd.0000320

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