Can humans be infected with flukes?

Yes, humans can be infected with flukes, which are parasitic flatworms. Flukes can cause a variety of diseases in humans, including fascioliasis, clonorchiasis, opisthorchiasis, and paragonimiasis. These diseases are typically acquired by eating raw or undercooked fish, shellfish, or freshwater plants that contain fluke larvae.

Fascioliasis is caused by the liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica. This fluke can infect the liver and bile ducts, causing abdominal pain, fever, diarrhea, and weight loss. Clonorchiasis is caused by the Chinese liver fluke, Clonorchis sinensis. This fluke can infect the liver and bile ducts, causing similar symptoms to fascioliasis. Opisthorchiasis is caused by the cat liver fluke, Opisthorchis viverrini. This fluke can infect the liver and bile ducts, causing similar symptoms to fascioliasis and clonorchiasis. Paragonimiasis is caused by the lung fluke, Paragonimus westermani. This fluke can infect the lungs, causing cough, chest pain, fever, and weight loss.

Treatment for fluke infections typically involves taking medication to kill the parasites. In some cases, surgery may be necessary to remove the flukes from the body.