Date amended:
External
Statements of Principles
Current RMA Instruments:
Reasonable Hypothesis SOP
47 of 2016
Balance of Probabilities SOP
48 of 2016
Changes from previous Instruments:

ICD Coding
  • ICD-9-CM Codes: 121.1
  • ICD-10-AM Codes: B66.1
Brief description

Clonorchiasis is a parasitic infection of the bile ducts by a type of liver fluke. It is acquired by eating raw or undercooked fresh water fish from certain Asian countries.

Confirming the diagnosis

The diagnosis needs to be confirmed by laboratory testing.  This involves microscopic identification of eggs in stool specimens or from duodenal aspirate.  An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method for detecting antigen in the stool may also be used.

Additional diagnoses covered by SOP
  • Nil
Conditions not covered by SOP
  • Opisthorchiasis*

* Another SOP applies

Clinical onset

Most infections are asymptomatic. Acute clinical infection may present with abdominal pain with associated nausea and diarrhea. Clinical manifestations of chronic infections include fatigue, abdominal discomfort, anorexia, weight loss, diarrhea, and jaundice. The usual incubation period is 3 to 4 weeks.  Clinical onset can be based on the time of diagnosis, or backdated if relevant symptoms consistent with clinical infection have been present.

Clinical worsening

The only worsening factor is for inability to obtain appropriate clinical management.