gold patent ‘fluke liver test device’ available now, reduces risk of bile duct cancer

Prof. Atthaphon Titapan, Head of the Center of Excellence in Cholangiocarcinoma Medicine, Khon Kaen University Srinakarin Hospital and Vice President of the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation show that bile duct cancer It is a serious disease that seriously threatens public health. The factors that cause the disease have been found. It is caused by the fact that the body is infected with liver fluke through eating food. Especially white-scale freshwater fish such as carp that have not been cooked, eaten raw, or eaten half-cooked or raw. Including eating papaya salad with fermented fish. The boiled fish sauce is not boiled. As a result, these foods still have accumulated liver fluke bacteria and have not been killed by the heat. When infected, liver flukes collect in the bile ducts. When left for a long time the fungus dries up into lumps and eventually turns into bile duct cancer.

However, current treatment technology can cure bile duct cancer. If detected from the first stage There is a 90% chance of recovery. Screening is therefore very important for people in risk groups to be screened regularly at least once a year. Because if the body is allowed to have an infection or liver fluke eggs accumulate for 5 – 10 years, it could lead to bile duct cancer. In addition, if it is screened it will be found that there is a risk of cancer. The doctor draws blood and a CT scan to confirm and start the treatment process as soon as possible. We would like to emphasize that bile duct cancer is treatable. But only if it is found in the early stages But find most of the patients It will be a late-stage cancer that is difficult or impossible to treat.

• The gold patent covers ready-made liver fluke test kits. Easy to use – accurate – can avoid risks

Prof. Watcharin Loilom, Director of the Cholangiocarcinoma Research Institute of Khon Kaen University and Secretary General of the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation He added that Currently, it is the solution for bile duct cancer screening people and groups at risk to look for fluke liver disease before it develops into bile duct cancer. Because when a parasitic infection is first detected, you can take medicine based on your body weight to get rid of it. But the screening test used to be done using a faecal test. To detect liver fluke eggs through a microscope. But now it has been found that the number of liver fluke eggs has changed to a smaller size. and it is less dense, making it difficult to detect and causing a lack of accuracy in screening as well

However, the Cholangiocarcinoma Institute Khon Kaen University has been created “Rapid liver fluke test kit” (OV-RDT) Successfully passed the urine. This is as easy as taking a pregnancy test. Start by collecting urine. Take a drop of solution from the test device and wait 5 – 10 minutes for the results If the results show 2 lines, it shows that there are liver parasites in the body. which must be taken with medicine to get rid of it And you have to monitor your eating habits so that you don’t get infected with liver flukes again. Because it will increase the risk of cancer in the future. or if liver flukes are found and also with other symptoms such as jaundice, abdominal pain, and weight loss, they are screened for bile duct cancer to confirm the disease. and enter treatment

Professor Dr. Watcharin said the same The ready-made rapid liver fluke test kit (OV-RDT) is now included in the national health insurance system (Gold Card 30 baht). To make it more convenient for groups at risk with all treatment rights to get a free fluke liver test. You can pick up a test kit at a drugstore. Includes medical technology clinics (laboratory clinics) which are service units in the gold card system. In the past, it was found that when screening for liver flukes and groups at risk went for additional tests to diagnose bile duct cancer. and allows up to 80% of cancer patients to be found in the early stages and enter the treatment process quickly. If the use of this test package is extended to cover, it is believed that the fluke liver risk group in Thailand, which is about 10 million people, will have more access to screening.

• Liver flukes kill 140,000 people a year.

Dr. Atthaphon Limpanyalert, DDS. The Deputy Secretary-General of the National Health Security Office (NHSO) said that liver flukes are an important factor in the development of bile duct cancer. In Thailand, up to 14,000 people die each year from this disease. In addition, from the NHSO’s data collection, it was found that in a population of 100,000, up to 85 patients with bile duct cancer, cause the leaf parasite And cancer of water pipes is another threat close to human life. However, this disease can be prevented by changing eating habits. Especially food from fresh water fish such as carp which must be cooked through heat every time before eating. The heat destroys the germs. and liver fluke eggs that live in these freshwater fish can be eliminated. It is an effective prevention of liver flukes that cause bile duct cancer. On the other hand, people need to be regularly and continuously screened for fluke liver disease. At least once a year to reduce the risk of bile duct cancer in the future.

“Thai citizens who are 15 years of age and older have all the rights. who think they are at risk of becoming infected with liver flukes, for example, like eating raw food or have a history of taking deworming medication before or have been on previous liver fluke infection Rapid liver fluke test kits (OV-RDT) are available at drug stores, clinics and laboratories that are a service unit of the NHSO, as well as government hospitals anywhere. free of charge is another option for citizens to screen and take care of your own health to prevent this serious disease,” said the Deputy Secretary General of the NHSO.