Parasitic Infections Flashcards
Ascariasis Etiology
- Ingestion of eggs in contaminated food
- Ascaris lumbricoides nematode (roundworm)
Ascariasis S/S
Transient cough, urticaria, pulmonary infiltrates, nonspecific abd symptoms
-fever, nonproductive cough, chest pain
Ascariasis Lab
- Adult worms may emerge from mouth, nose, or anus
- ID eggs in feces
- Eosiniphilia on CBC
- Abd ultrasound will ID worms
Ascariasis Management
-Worms may migrate to common bile duct, pancreatic duct, appendix
-Heavy infestation may cause intestinal obstruction, vovulus, intussusception, death
Tx: albendazole, mebendazole, or pyrantel pamoate
Ascariasis Prev/Prog
- Infections are high in areas of poor hygiene
- Reinfection is common in endemic areas
Enterobiasis Etiology
Enterobius vermicularis (pinworm)
- ingest eggs from infected individual, contaminated food, infected clothing/bedding
- Deposit eggs on perianal skin
Enterobiasis S/S
Nocturnal perianal pruritius
- asymptomatic
- insomnia, restlessness, enuresis
- mild GI symptoms
Enterobiasis Lab
ID eggs or adult worms on perianal skin or in stool
-apply clear tape to perianal skin in early morning and examine under microscope
Enterobiasis Management
Tx: single dose of albendazole, mebendazole, or pyrantel pamoate
- repeat in 2 wks due to frequent reinfection
- Treat all close contacts
Enterobiasis Prev/Prog
- hand washing
- washing clothes/bedding will kill
- easily cured but reinfection is common
Trichinosis Etiology
Trichinella spiralis and other Trichinella species
- ingestion of inadequately cooked pork or game
- larvae are freed from cyst from gastric acid and passes to small intestine
- larvae invade intestinal epithelial cells and release larvae
- invade skeletal muscle
Trichinosis S/S
Transient intestinal symptoms followed by fever, myalgias, and periorbital edema
- asymptomatic
- HA, cough, dyspnea, hoarseness, rash, subconjunctival and retinal hemorrhages
- symptoms peak 2-3wks and lasts 2 months
Trichinosis Lab
Eosinophilia
-elevated serum muscle enzymes
Trichinosis Management
- No specific therapy
- Mebendazole or albendazole will limit tissue invasion
- supportive therapy: analgesics, antipyretics, bed rest, steroids in severe illness
Trichinosis Prev/Prog
-Cook meat
Tapeworm Etiology
Infected by eating raw/undercooked meat/ freshwater fish 4 Sources -Beef: Taenia saginata, largest -Pork: Taenia solium -Fish: Diphyllobothrium latum -Dwarf: Hymenolepis nana
Tapeworm S/S
Generally asymptomatic
-can have abd pain or GI symptoms (N/D)
Tapeworm Lab
CBC: eosinophilia
-infection is discovered by finding proglottids or eggs in stool