Common Symptoms from an Uncommon Infection: Gastrointestinal Anisakiasis

Abstract

Clinicians can be forgiven for thinking of anisakiasis as a rare condition low in the differential diagnosis of abdominal pain. Gastrointestinal anisakiasis is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by consumption of raw or undercooked seafood infected with nematodes of the genus Anisakis. Even though the reported cases indicate that this is a rare disease, the true incidence of the disease could be potentially higher than what is reported in the literature as cases can go undiagnosed. Diagnosis and treatment of gastric anisakiasis are made by a compatible dietary history, direct visualization, and removal of the larvae via gastroscopy. Serologic testing and imaging studies are useful in the diagnosis of intestinal anisakiasis and conservative management should be considered. This disease may mimic other diseases and lead to unnecessary surgery. This emphasizes the importance of suspecting gastrointestinal anisakiasis by history taking and by other diagnostic modalities.

Paucisymptomatic gastric anisakiasis: endoscopical removal of Anisakis sp. larva

“…Furthermore, as previously mentioned, the gastric detection of nematode is not easily made because it could be confused with gastric mucus. Due to the rare occurrence of this disease, inexperienced endoscopists may easily overlook larvae, because they are usually hidden between the edematous gastric folds or blend in with the gastric mucosa [15] . Thus, the true incidence of the disease could be potentially higher than what is reported in the literature as cases can go undiagnosed.…”

Anisakiasis: a growing cause of abdominal pain!

“…Anisakiasis is a zoonosis caused by nematodes parasites of the genus Anisakis 1. It is caused by the consumption of contaminated raw or undercooked fish or seafood 2.…”

“…Most of the cases were described in Japan due to food habits; however, it has been increasingly recognised in Western countries 2 3. Patients can have allergic symptoms like angioedema, urticarial and anaphylaxis 1. Gastrointestinal symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting and complications like digestive bleeding, bowel obstruction, perforation and peritonitis can also arise 1.…”

“…Patients can have allergic symptoms like angioedema, urticarial and anaphylaxis 1. Gastrointestinal symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting and complications like digestive bleeding, bowel obstruction, perforation and peritonitis can also arise 1. Patients can have a low-grade fever 1.…”

“…Gastrointestinal symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting and complications like digestive bleeding, bowel obstruction, perforation and peritonitis can also arise 1. Patients can have a low-grade fever 1. A severe leucocytosis can be present, but peripheral eosinophilia is rare 3.…”