Acari-Induced Diarrhea in Young Adult Patients: Case Report From Indonesia.

BACKGROUND Intestinal acariasis is caused by the ingestion of mite-contaminated food and may lead to symptoms such as diarrhea and abdominal pain. Storage mites can survive in the human intestine and may contribute to intestinal acariasis-associated diarrhea. However, awareness of this condition as a potential cause of diarrhea remains limited. These mites, particularly Tyrophagus putrescentiae and other storage mites, are commonly found in food products such as flour and grains. CASE REPORT This report describes 3 cases of intestinal acariasis. Complete clinical data were available for the first case; only demographic information (age and sex) and stool laboratory findings were available for the second and third cases. All 3 patients presented with diarrhea and exhibited mites in their stool specimens. The etiologic agents in the first 2 patients were identified as Tyrophagus spp. The arthropod detected in the third patient could not be identified because the specimen was fragmented. Mites may induce intestinal inflammation, mucosal necrosis, and immune activation through their metabolic products. In intestinal acariasis, mites can damage the intestinal mucosa, penetrate the intestinal muscle layer, and further stimulate immune responses through their metabolites and body components. CONCLUSIONS Mites should be considered a potential cause of diarrhea. Further investigation into intestinal acariasis-associated diseases is warranted.