Block 7 (GI) - L12 to L13 Flashcards
In general, helminths do not multiply in humans. What are the two exceptions?
- Strongyloids
2. Hymenolepsis nana
The severity of disease caused by helminths is related to what factor?
The worm burden (# of worms acquired at time of infection)
What is a definitive host?
Host in which the adult develops and reproduces sexually (often humans)
What is an intermediate host?
Any animal in which various stages of larval development occur (insect, crustacean, other vertebrae)
What are the three classifications of helminths?
- Nematodes (roundworms)
- Cestodes (segmented tapeworms)
- Trematodes (flatworms or flukes)
How are intestinal nematodes acquired (be specific)?
Skin: Strongyloides and Hookworm
Ingestion: Ascaris, VLM, Enterobius, Trichuris
How do intestinal nematodes travel through the human (be specific)?
Lung migration: Strongyloides, Hookworm, Ascaris
Intestine only: Ascaris, Enterobius, Trichuris
Which intestinal nematodes are acquired by passage through the skin?
Strongyloides and Hookworm
Where is Strongyloides stercoralis located geographically?
Worldwide in tropical and subtropical areas
Describe the life cycle of Strongyloides stercoralis.
Filariform larva penetrate the skin, migrate to the lungs, coughed up and swallowed, ultimately to the small bowel, where ova hatch and are passed in the stool as rhabditiform larva.
Which two helminths can complete their life cycles in human beings and thus cause autoinfection?
- Strongyloides stercoralis
2. Hymenolpesis nana
Describe the symptoms of Strongyloides with lung migration.
Cough, wheezing, fever
Describe the symptoms of Strongyloides (light infection).
Asymptomatic
Describe the symptoms of Strongyloides (moderate-heavy infection).
Dysentery, fever, anemia, weight loss, peritonitis
Describe the symptoms of Strongyloides (hyper-infection syndrome).
Dysentery, pneumonia, GN sepsis (tends to occur in people who are immunocompromised)
Describe the symptoms of Strongyloides (chronic infection).
Creeping eruption
How is Strongylodies diagnosed?
- Marked eosinophilia
- Rhabditiform larvae in stool
- Serology
- PCR
How is Strongyloides treated?
Ivermectin (2nd line - Albendazole); No treatment is NOT an option
What are the two types of hookworms and where are they found geographically?
Ancylostoma duodonale and Necator americanus
Worldwide (tropical and subtropical)
Describe the life cycle of Hookworms.
Ova passed in feces, hatches to rhabdidiform larva in soil, which penetrates the skin
What are the symptoms of infection with Hookworm?
- Ground itch (kind of papular dermatitis on lower extremities)
- Light - asymptomatic
- Moderate to heavy - GI symptoms, iron deficiency anemia (hypochromic, microcytic)
- Lung migration - asthma
How is Hookworm diagnosed?
- On differential with microcytic anemia
2. Ova in feces
How is Hookworm diagnosed?
- Albendazole, Mebendazole, pyrantel pamoate (kill worms)
2. Iron (repletion)
Which intestinal nematodes are acquired by ingestion?
- Ascaris lumbricoides
- VLM
- Enterobius
- Trichuris
Where is Ascaris found geographically?
Worldwide, very common due to female passing 200,000+ ova/day
How does Ascaris resist environmental rigors?
Mamillated coating of ova
Discuss the life cycle of Ascaris.
Ova passed in feces are ingested, can migrate to lungs
What are the clinical manifestations of Ascaris?
- Asthma (lung migration)
- Light - asymptomatic, may pass worm
- Moderate/heavy - intestinal or biliary obstruction, aberrant migration to nose or skin
How is Ascaris diagnosed?
- Ova (easy to find, characteristic morphology)
2. X-ray/Barium study
How is Ascaris treated?
Albendazole, Mebendazole, Ivermectin, Nitazoxanide
What is the characteristic morphology of Ascaris ova?
Thick, mammillated, tree bark appearance
What are the larva migrans and where are they found?
- Toxocara canis - Ascarid worm of dog
- Toxocara catis - Ascarid worm of cat
- Baylisascaris procyonis - Ascarid of raccoon
Humans are an accidental host
What is the life cycle of VLM?
Children ingest embryonated ova from the stool of an animal;; larva wander in viscera
Where do larva wander to in Toxicariasis?
Liver, heart, kidney, eye
Where do larva wander to in Baylisascaris (in particular)?
Brain, spinal cord
What is the pathogenesis of larva migrans?
Wandering larvae produce hemorrhage and inflammation, leading to eosinophilic infiltration and granulomas
What are the manifestations of visceral larva migrans?
Fever, hepatomegaly, pulmonary infiltrates and bronchospasm, myalgia and arthralgia, eosinophilia
What are the manifestations of ocular larva migrans?
Eye pain, visual disturbance
What are the manifestations of neural larva migrans?
Fever, lethargy, ataxia, leading to sezures, coma, and death
How is VLM diagnosed?
- Eosinophilia
- Larva in tissue
- Serology
How is VLM treated?
Self-limited, but can give anti-helminths (unclear if effective)
Where is Enterobius (pinworm) found geographically?
Worldwide (cosmopolitan)
What is the life cycle of Enterobius?
Ova ingested, develop in intestine, female migrates to perianal region to deposit eggs, transmitted (anus or fomites, inhalation of dust, retroinfection)
What are the symptoms of Enterobius?
- Perianal and perineal itching
- GI and GU granuloma
- Appendix
How is Enterobius diagnosed?
- Visualization of ova
How is Enterobius treated?
Albendazole, mebendazole, pyrantel pamoate
Other family members should be tested
Where is Trichuris trichiura located?
Worldwide, common in tropics
What is the life cycle of Trichuris trichiura?
Ingest ova, develop in intestines only (embed in colonic surface)
What are the symptoms of Trichuris trichiura?
- Light - asymptomatic
2. Heavy - diarrhea, abdominal pain, rectal prolapse, anemia
How is Trichuris trichiura diagnosed?
- Ova in feces
2. Characteristic morhpology
How is Trichuris trichuria treated?
Mebendazole
Describe the characteristic morphology of Trichuris trichiura ova.
Polar plugs