Hymenolepis diminuta infection in a child from urban area of North India: A rare case report

Abstract

Hymenolepis diminuta, also known as rat tapeworm, infects humans uncommonly. The diagnosis is based on the demonstration of characteristic eggs in the feces. We present a case report of H. diminuta infection in a 6-year-old female child from an urban area of India who presented with fever and seizures and also had complaints of intermittent abdominal pain, vomiting, and loss of appetite, without an apparent history of contact with rodents. The infection was treated with albendazole and showed clinical and parasitological cure. More awareness is required for a better understanding of epidemiology and transmission routes of this rare zoonosis.