Worms and Hygiene

Question 1

What causes red skin and excoriated around the anus and small white threads?

Answer 1

Enterobius vermicularis (threadworms)

Question 2

What is the prevalence of threadworm?

Answer 2

20%

affects children <10

Question 3

How is threadworm transmitted?

Answer 3

Hand-mouth transmission

Question 4

Prophylaxis of threadworm?

Answer 4

Hygiene, washing hands before and after meals with soap
Washing sheets and towels at high temperature
Tight-fitting pants could lead to an urethra infection

Question 5

Common symptoms of threadworm?

Answer 5

• intense anul itching

- long term infestation (can get re-infestations if not treated properly)

Question 6

Treatment of threadworm?

Answer 6

-mebendazole chewable tablet, family treatment (1 tablet but can repeat the dose after a couple weeks)

Question 7

Effects of long term infestation

Answer 7

weight loss
concentration
reduce appetite

Question 8

Cause of itchy feet, red tracks between toes and on ankle, and a tickly cough?

Answer 8

strongyloids stercoralis (treadworm)

Question 9

Common symptoms of strongyloids stercoralis?

Answer 9

pruritus ‘larva currens’: worms bury into skin after contact and can travel in blood vessels to other parts of body
hyperinfestation syndrome, worm rapidly grows and breads rare only in those immunocompromised
starts to cause a cough which causes the worm to be swallowed = reinfestation
60% of infestations are asymptomatic

Question 10

How do you prevent treadworm?

Answer 10

how do you prevent strongyloids stercoralis
wear shoes (ground infestation)
avoid walking in areas raw sewage has been used

Question 11

Treatment for treadworm?

Answer 11

Ivermectin; unlincensed IV vet medicine

Albenazole; eye worm

Question 12

losing weight for 2 months since returning from Africa

ate local meat which looked a bit uncooked - CAUSE?

Answer 12

taenia species (cestode) = tapeworm

Question 13

Common symptoms of tapeworm?

Answer 13

Usually asymptomatictaeniasis - 
GI disturbances; diarrhoa and discomfort
weight loss - used illegally 
neurocysticerosis (larvae sacks) - severe fitting, epilepsy, necrosis and death
echinococcosis - cysts within the liver

Question 14

How do you prevent tapeworm?

Answer 14

Avoid raw meat

Make sure meat is from a safe source

Question 15

Treatment of tapeworm?

Answer 15

praziquantel or single dose nicosamide
often co-prescribed with a laxative to help pass out the tapeworm more effectively
also with a antiemetic as if you sick up a worm you will swallow it again and cause re-infesation

Question 16

Whats albendazole used for?

Answer 16

Hookworm and Strongyloidiasis, special order

Question 17

What’s mebendazole used for?

Answer 17

Pinworm, also hook/whip and roundworm

Question 18

What’s piperazine used for?

Answer 18

Pinworm and roundworm