29. Epidemiology and prevention of enteric helminth and protozoon infections

From greek.doctor

Enteric helminth and protozoa infections

  • Pinworms
  • Giardia
  • Amebiasis
  • Ascariasis
  • Tapeworms
  • Whipworm

Pinworms

  • Parasite: Enterobius Vermicularis
  • Epidemiology
    • Outbreaks common in schools
  • Transmission
    • Faecal-oral
  • Clinical features
    • Key symptom: itching at the rectum
    • Parasites leaves the anus at night, leaves eggs around the anus
  • Diagnosis
    • Put tape at the anus, look for eggs in the morning
  • Treatment:
    • Vermox
    • Antiminth

Giardiasis

  • Parasite: Giardia lamblia
  • Epidemiology
    • Very common water-borne infection
  • Transmission
    • Faecal-oral transmission
  • Lives in the upper GI tract
  • Clinical feaatures
    • Diarrhoea
    • Abdominal pain
    • Flatus
    • Steatorrhea
  • Diagnosis
    • Microscopy of stool to look for cysts

Amebiasis

  • Protozoa: Entamoeba histolytica
  • Epidemiology
    • Found in 4% of the population
  • Transmission
    • Faecal-oral
  • Invades the mucosa of coecum and ascending colon
  • Clinical features
    • Can be asymptomatic
    • Diarrhoea
    • Abdominal pain
    • Flatus
    • Can travel to liver, causing hepatitis

Ascariasis

  • Helminth: Ascaris lumbricoides (the large intestine round worm)
  • Epidemiology
    • The most common helminth infection worldwide
    • Mostly affects children in developing and tropical countries
  • Transmission
    • Transmitted by contaminated food
  • Penetrate the intestine, invades liver, lung, heart
  • Symptoms
    • Can be asymptomatic
    • Invasion of lungs -> causes Loeffler syndrome

Tapeworms

  • Helminth: Taenia solium
  • In raw or undercooked pork or beef
  • Can be 25 meters in length
  • Cysticercosis -> cysts of larvae in any organ, especially in the brain

Whipworm

  • Helminth: Trichuris trichiura
  • Epidemiology
    • Very common parasitic infection in the US
  • Transmission
    • Faecal-oral transmission
  • Worm lives in coecum and appendix
  • Female produces thousands of eggs every day
  • Clinical features
    • Often asymptomatic
    • Allergic reactions
    • Anaemia
    • Diarrhoea