Helminths and Parasites Flashcards
What white blood cell increases with the helminth infection
Eosinophils
This nematodes lifecycle involves the GI tract and lungs in humans, and is found in mountainous areas of the southern US. Generally mild or asymptomatic. In children, masses of worms can block the intestine. When in the lung- chest I filtrate, cough, and high eosinophilia
Ascaris lumbricoides
This nematode is a hookworm that lives in soil and enters via human skin in the foot then enters the GI tracts. There may be intense itching at site if penetration. Local growth in lungs can cause chest infiltrates, coughing, and eosinophilia. Anemia and weight loss are also symptoms.
Nectar americanus
Naming convention for drugs to treat intestinal nematodes
Contain -bend or meBENDazole
Pruritic rash. Lung symptoms, eosinophilia, immunocompromising drugs (ie steroids) can cause severe autoinfection with ARDS (acute resp distress syndrome) and multisystem failure. Transmission from soil to skin
Strongyloides stercoralis
Transmission from eating cysts in undercooked pork. Can live for decades in skeletal muscle. Most patients asymptomatic. In some severe cases larvae enter heart muscle and brain tissue
Trichinella spiralis
Whipworm- intestinal nematodes that does not increase eosinophils count
Trichuris trichiura
Pinworm- female lays eggs in cecum at night, causes severe perianal itching, no eosinophilia
Enterobius vermicularis
Blood and tissue nematode family that are spread by arthropods
Filarioidea
Hookworm that causes Creeping eruption, intensely itchy migratory skin infection, common in southeastern US, transmitted to skin from soil or sand contaminated with larvae in cat or dog feces
Cutaneous larval migrans
Second most common cause of sickness in the tropics
Schistosoma (trematode)
