Parasitic infections Flashcards
What can be used to treat threadworms?
benzimidazoles = mebenazole
Pyrantel
How can you influence systemic absorption of albendazole?
Inc systemic absorption = take with food (effective for tissue infections)
Dec systemic absorption = tale w/out food
Discuss the treatment rationale of whipworms
The parasite remains predominantly in GIT
Use non systemic albendazole (w/out food)
What are the symptoms of whipworms?
Asymptomatic usually
Heavy symptoms = frequent difficult to pass stools w/ blood, mucus, and water
In children = growth retardation, anaemia, impaired cognitive development
Describe the treatment rationale for roundworms
Use systemic antihelminths (albendazole w/ food)
Larvae are able to travel from GIT to lungs
Heavy infections = intestinal blockage, impair child growth
Compare/contrast the treatment of hookworms and zoonotic hookworms
Both infections caused by the same thing
Untreated, hookworms cause anaemia, protein def due to blood loss at intestinal attachment site of adult worms
Zoonotic hookworms = don’t require treatment, treatment only helps prevent secondary bact infections
What is the difference between zoonotic hookworms and hookworms?
Zoonotic hookworms cause skin condition called = cutaneous larva migrans (itchy, raised red lines)
Hookworms = can cause systemic symptoms (children = growth retardation, loss of iron and protein, impaired mental development )
How would you treat Hookworms?
Systemic albendazole (w/ food)
Due to passage of larva from skin throughout body and eventually digestive tract
What are strongyloides and how are they treated?
Infected by stongyloides larvae in soil (miners, farmers, walking barefoot, contact with human waste/sewage)
Commonly asymptomatic
Treated with ivermectin (w/ fatty food to inc systemic absorption)
What is lymphatic filariasis and how is it treated?
Transmitted between people by mosquitos = causes lymphedema and elephantiasis
Treated with systemic drugs = ivermectin, albendazole (Sometimes mixed w/ doxycycline)
Is lymphedema and elephantiasis indications for anti-parasitic treatment?
No, most people with these conditions arent actively infected with filarial parasite
What causes hydroceles?
Lymphatic filariasis in men
Swelling of scrotum
Generally, discuss tape worms
No symptoms or mild = digestive problems, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, weight loss, upset stomach
How are tape worms treated?
Praziquantel
Systemic or not, depends on where the parasite has gone
What is cysticercosis?
Tissue infection caused larval cysts of tapeworm Taenia solium (from pork)
Infect brain, muscle, eye, liver
Cause of adult onset seizures
