Increase in source of vaccinia immune globulins

Abstract

The Dipylidium has a light reddish-yellow color and measures 10 to 70 cm. in length. The mature proglottids, shaped like cucumber seeds, are excreted with the feces or they may leave the anus of the host spontaneously. Intermediate hosts are the dog flea (Ctenocephalides canis), the cat flea (Ctenocephalides /dis), the human flea (Pulex irritans), as well as the dog louse (Trichodectes canis). Children probably acquire the parasite by accidental ingestion of these fleas. Infestation by the parasite most frequently occurs in early childhood. Brown 1 reported the only other case of an infant, a 4-monthold patient, who harbored 4 dipylidia. Symptoms are usually absent or include only abdominal discomfort. Occasionally irritability, pallor, periodic abdominal pain, and anal pruritus are observed. 4' 5 No such signs or symptoms were found on our patient, other than the pruritic rash, which appeared to be due to infantile eczema. Rash has not been associated with dipylidiasis, but urticaria and allergic skin manifestations have been described in patients with ofher intestinal parasites. Anemia and leukopenia, occasional findings of tapeworm infections, were not observed, while eosinophilia was present in our case. The drug of choice is quinacrine hydrochloride, al though other agents have been used. SUMMARY