Parasites Flashcards
What is ascaris lumbricoides?
Roundworm, most common helminth infection
What are the clinical manifestations of ascaris lumbricoides?
Most patients are asymptomatic
Mild-moderate abdominal discomfort, symptoms of obstruction
What is Loeffler’s syndrome?
Eosinophilic pneumonitis
Occurs with ascaris, strongyloies, hookworm
How is ascaris lumbricoides diagnosed?
Ova and Parasite exam x 3
Passage of worm
Charcot-Leyden crystals in sputum
What is the treatment for ascaris lumbricoides?
Mebendazole, Albendazole
ERCP
What are Necator americaus and Ancylostoma duodenale?
Hookworms
Significant cause of anemia, secrete anticoagulants
What are the symptoms of Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale?
Loeffler’s syndrome
Mild abdominal pain
Symptoms of anemia
Localized urticarial papulovesicular rash at entry site
What do ancylostoma braziliense and ancylostoma caninum cause?
Ground itch or creeping eruption
How is hookworm diagnosed?
Hookworm eggs on microscopic exams
Must be examined within 1-2 hours
What is the treatment for hookworm?
Mebendazole, Albendazole
Ivermectin
What is Strongyloides stercoralis?
Threadworm
Causes hyperinfection in immunosuppressed
What are the clinical manifestations of threadworm?
GI - stomach pain with diarrhea, indigestion, cramping
Loefller’s syndrome
Urticarial rash clled larva crrens that moves
What are the symptoms of hyperinfection of strongyloides stercoralis?
Worms migrate and invade organs
Life-threatening gram negative sepsis
Extreme eosinophila
How is Strongyloides tercoralis diagnosed?
Dramatic eosinophila
Larvae in stool
Agar culture
What is the treatment of threadworm?
Ivermectin
Albendazole
What organisms cause toxocariasis?
Visceral larva migrans
Ocular larva migrans
What are the clinical manifestations of toxocariasis?
Asthma-like attackes
N/V, abdominal discomfort
Hepatitis
Urticarial rashes
Visual loss
What is Baylisascaris procyonis?
Roundworm found in raccoons that can cause ocular, visceral, or neural larva migrans
How is toxocariasis diagnosed?
Exceptionally high eosinophil count
ELISA very specific
How is toxocariasis treated?
Albendazole, Mebendazole
What is enterobius vermicularis?
Pinworm
20% prevalence in general childhood population
How is pinworm diagnosed?
Direct visualization
Scotch-tape test
What is the treatment for enterobius vermicularis?
Mebendazole, Albendazole
Pyrantel pamoate in pregnancy
Must treat whole family
What is Trichuris trichirua?
Whipworm
What are the clinical manifestations of trichuris tricirua?
Light infections - asymptomatic
Lower abdominal pain, abdominal distention, chronic diarrhea
Rectal Prolapse in heavy infections
How is Trichuris trichiura diagnosed?
Characteristic barrel-shaped eggs
Proctoscopy
No eosinophilia
What is the treatment for whipworm?
Ivermectin
Albendazole, mebendazole
What is Capillariasis?
Genus of nematodes that can produce disease in humans
Can cause severe diarrhea, massive protein loss, and death from heart failure
What are the clinical manifestations of trichinellosis?
Intestinal stage - fevvers, N/V, cramping, diarrhea
Muscle invasion stage - muscle pain and tenderness, Facial edema, splinter hemorrhages in nailbeds
What are the more uncommon symptoms of trichinellosis?
CHF from myocarditis
Meningitis, encephalitis
Chronic muscle pains and malaise
What is angiostrongyliasis?
Most common cause of human eosinophilic meningitis
What are the symptoms of A. cantonensis infection?
Eosinophilic meningitis
Distinctive paresthesias
What are the symptoms of A. costaricensis infection?
Fever, vomiting, abdominal pain with possible RLQ mass
High eosinophil count
