Case report, case study
ENTEROBIUS VERMICULARIS FAMILY INFECTION DETECTED BY URINE SEDIMENT SCREENING
IVANKA BATARILO
orcid.org/0000-0002-1775-0807
; Croatian Institute of Transfusion Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
GORDANA MARAVIĆ-VLAHOVIČEK
orcid.org/0000-0002-0253-4028
; Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
BRANKA BEDENIĆ
; School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
MIA SLADE-VITKOVIĆ
; Croatian Institute of Transfusion Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Introduction: Pinworm Enterobius vermicularis is transmitted through the anal-oral route, by swallowing eggs with larvae that become invasive in already four hours. The larvae hatch in the small intestine and migrate to the large intestine where they mature into adults in 2 to 6 weeks. Males impregnate females that come out in the anal area at night and lay the characteristicasymmetric eggs. The main symptom is persistent itching of the anal skin. Case report: A female patient aged 35 years experienced itching and burning sensation in the urogenital area. A week ago, similar symptoms have appeared in her 3-years old daughter for which her physician prescribed antimicrobial and antifungal therapy. The patient brought her fi rst voiding morning urine sample for urine culture. Additionally, ten milliliters of urine was centrifuged, supernatant removed and the sediment examined microscopically. Examination of urine sediment at 10x magnifi cation revealed many epithelial cells and calcium carbonate crystals, rare polymorphonuclear leukocytes, rare bacteria and many round and oval shapes. Examination of the same sample at 40x magnifi cation confi rmed that those regular shapes were eggs of Enterobius vermicularis. Larvae were visible both within the eggs and free out of the eggs, including those that were just about to leave the thin egg shell. Family history was taken and perianal specimens (tape test) from all family members were obtained. Enterobius vermicularis eggs were found in the patient’s (the mother) perianal tape sample, the 3-year old daughter and a 10-year old son, while her husband’s (the father) and the 14-years old son’s specimens were negative. Conclusion: Perianal tape test is the method of choice for enterobiasis. The presented case showed that urine sediment microbiological examination could provide a worthy information on family infestation with small baby worm, as well. Urinary sediment could serve for valuable examination in unclear situations and if the reliable data were not available, as in small children.
Keywords
Enterobius vermicularis; urine sediment; schotch tape; mebendazole
Hrčak ID:
307182
URI
Publication date:
10.8.2023.
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