Disease caused by the liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica. This is found in sheep, cattle and other herbivorous animals, and can be transmitted to humans from the infected animals by snails. The danger is in eating vegetables – particularly wild watercress – that have been colonised by snails. It is characterised by fever, dyspepsia (indigestion), heavy sweating, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, URTICARIA, and a troublesome cough. In the more serious cases there may be severe damage to the LIVER, with or without JAUNDICE. The diagnosis is confirmed by the finding of the eggs of the fluke in the stools. The two drugs most commonly used in treatment are bithionol and triclobendazole.