Helminth infections: Difference between revisions

 
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*Most common in subtropical and tropical areas, moist climates, poor sanitation and hygiene <ref name="rosens">"Chapter 133 - Parasitic Infections." Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. Ed. John A. Marx, Robert S. Hockberger, and Ron M. Walls. Philadelphia, PA: Mosby Elsevier, 2014. 1768-784.</ref>
*Most common in subtropical and tropical areas, moist climates, poor sanitation and hygiene <ref name="rosens">"Chapter 133 - Parasitic Infections." Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. Ed. John A. Marx, Robert S. Hockberger, and Ron M. Walls. Philadelphia, PA: Mosby Elsevier, 2014. 1768-784.</ref>


===Transmission:===  
===Transmission:===
*No direct person-to-person transmission  
*No direct person-to-person transmission  


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**Diphyllobothrium tapeworm transmitted by contaminated freshwater fish
**Diphyllobothrium tapeworm transmitted by contaminated freshwater fish
**Dracunculiasis transmitted by ingestion of infected Cyclops water fleas in contaminated water (adult worm erodes through skin of leg, releases larvae in water when host wades in pond / open well, infecting the water fleas)
**Dracunculiasis transmitted by ingestion of infected Cyclops water fleas in contaminated water (adult worm erodes through skin of leg, releases larvae in water when host wades in pond / open well, infecting the water fleas)
==Worm Types==
===Roundworm===
#[[Ascaris lumbricoides]]
#[[Toxocara canis]]
===[[Whipworm]]===
#[[Trichuris trichiura]]
===[[Hookworm]]===
#[[Necator americanus]]
#[[Ancylostoma duodenale]]
===Tapeworm===
#[[Diphyllobothrium latum]]
#[[Echinococcus granulosus]]
===[[Cysticercosis]]===
#[[Taenia solium]]
#[[Taenia saginata]]
===[[Lymphatic filariasis]]===
Also known as  Elephantiasis
#Wuchereria bancrofti
#Brugia malayi
#Brugia timori
===[[Dracunculiasis]]===
Also known as Guinea Worm disease
#Dracunculus medinensis
===[[Onchocerciasis]]===
Also known as River Blindness
#Onchocerca volvulus


==Clinical Features==
==Clinical Features==
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**symptom chronology
**symptom chronology


===Soil-transmitted helminths ===
==Types==
*Includes Ascaris roundworm, whipworm, and hookworms
{{Helminth Types}}
*Morbidity is related to number of worms harbored in intestines
*Light infections often asymptomatic
*Heavier infections with variety of manifestations including GI symptoms (abdominal pain, diarrhea, blood in stool, rectal prolapse), malaise, weakness, impaired cognitive / physical development, malnutrition<ref>Wilcox S, Thomas S, Brown D, Nadel E.  “Gastrointestinal Parasite.”  The Journal of Emergency Medicine, 2007; 33(3):277-280</ref></ref>
*Hookworm and whipworm infestations also cause iron-deficiency anemia
**Adult worms attach to intestinal wall to feed, causing ongoing luminal blood loss
*'''Löffler’s syndrome'''
**Result of Ascaris or hookworm larval transit through the lungs
**Characterized by persistent non-productive cough, chest pain, wheezing, rales, pulmonary infiltrates on CXR and marked eosinophilia


==Diagnosis==
==Evaluation==
===General===
===General===
*Stool studies (ova and parasites)
*Stool studies (ova and parasites)
*CBC to identify peripheral eosinophilia or anemia (not sensitive or specific)
*CBC to identify peripheral [[eosinophilia]] or anemia (not sensitive or specific)
*Peripheral blood smear to identify microfilariae (e.g. lymphatic filariasis)
*Peripheral blood smear to identify microfilariae (e.g. lymphatic filariasis)
 
===Disease/Symptom Specific===
===Disease/Symptom Specific===
*Pulmonary symptoms: CXR and sputum smear (e.g. Löffler’s syndrome)
*Pulmonary symptoms: CXR and sputum smear (e.g. Löffler’s syndrome)
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*Identification of adult worm or microscopic larvae in cutaneous ulcer fluid can confirm dracunculiasis
*Identification of adult worm or microscopic larvae in cutaneous ulcer fluid can confirm dracunculiasis


==Clinical Management==
==Management==
===Soil-transmitted helminthes===
*[[Ascaris]]: albendazole 400 mg x 1 dose OR mebendazole 100 mg BID x 3 days (both high efficacy)
 
*[[Whipworm]] (Trichuris): albendazole 400 mg x 1 dose
**Historically treated with albendazole or mebendazole, but monotherapy has low efficacy against Trichuris especially in heavy infections; higher cure rate achieved with oxantel pamoate-albendazole combination compared to any monotherapy in recent RCT <ref>Speich B, Ame S, et al. "Oxantel Pamoate–Albendazole for Trichuris Trichiura Infection." New England Journal of Medicine, 2014; 370: 610-620.</ref>
 
*[[Hookworm]]: albendazole 400 mg x 1 dose (high efficacy) OR mebendazole 500 mg x 1 dose (low to moderate efficacy)
 
*Iron supplements in anemia


==See Also==
==See Also==
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==External Links==
==External Links==


==Sources==
==References==
<references/>
<references/>


[[Category:ID]]
[[Category:ID]]

Latest revision as of 05:07, 5 October 2016

Background

  • Approximately 2 billion people infected worldwide
  • Many are WHO-designated Neglected Tropical Diseases[1]
  • At-risk populations include impoverished, children, immigrants, tourists, HIV/AIDS patients, refugees [2]
  • Most common in subtropical and tropical areas, moist climates, poor sanitation and hygiene [3]

Transmission:

  • No direct person-to-person transmission
  • Fecal-oral transmission (ingestion of eggs in contaminated soil / vegetables / water)[3]
    • Ascaris and whipworm from human feces
    • Toxocara from dog / cat feces
    • Echinococcus from sheep / cattle feces
    • Taenia eggs from human feces
  • Cutaneous transmission
    • Hookworm eggs hatch in the soil, mature larvae penetrate skin
    • Lymphatic filariasis transmitted via bite from infected mosquito (Anopheles, Aedes, and Culex)
    • Onchocerciasis transmitted via bite from blackflies (Simulium species)
  • Food or waterborne transmission
    • Taenia also transmitted by ingestion of larval cysts in undercooked pork or beef
    • Diphyllobothrium tapeworm transmitted by contaminated freshwater fish
    • Dracunculiasis transmitted by ingestion of infected Cyclops water fleas in contaminated water (adult worm erodes through skin of leg, releases larvae in water when host wades in pond / open well, infecting the water fleas)

Clinical Features

History

  • Parasitic infections can be in the differential diagnosis for nearly every sign/symptom (GI, dermatologic, neurologic, pulmonary, ophthalmologic, hematologic)
  • Obtain a travel history in every patient
    • countries of travel
    • duration of stay
    • activities while traveling (adventure travel, tourism, working, swimming)
    • living arrangements – city / village / hotel / tent
    • drinking water source
    • symptom chronology

Types

Helminth infections

Cestodes (Tapeworms)

Trematodes (Flukes)

Nematodes (Roundworms)

Evaluation

General

  • Stool studies (ova and parasites)
  • CBC to identify peripheral eosinophilia or anemia (not sensitive or specific)
  • Peripheral blood smear to identify microfilariae (e.g. lymphatic filariasis)

Disease/Symptom Specific

  • Pulmonary symptoms: CXR and sputum smear (e.g. Löffler’s syndrome)
  • CNS symptoms
    • Neuroimaging (CT with contrast or MR brain) may reveal ring-enhancing lesions, calcifications, or focal enhancing lesions in neurocysticercosis[4][5]
    • CSF serologies/ELISA for echinococcus, cysticercosis
  • Ultrasound or CT can localize cyst of echinococcus
  • ELISA or biopsy of affected tissue to diagnosis toxocariasis, cysticercosis
  • Identification of adult worm or microscopic larvae in cutaneous ulcer fluid can confirm dracunculiasis

Management

See Also

External Links

References

  1. The 17 Neglected Tropical Diseases." World Health Organization. http://www.who.int/neglected_diseases/diseases/en/. Web. 11 Aug. 2014.
  2. "Parasites." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/. Web. 11 Aug. 2014.
  3. 3.0 3.1 "Chapter 133 - Parasitic Infections." Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. Ed. John A. Marx, Robert S. Hockberger, and Ron M. Walls. Philadelphia, PA: Mosby Elsevier, 2014. 1768-784.
  4. Del Brutto OH, Rajshekhar V, White A, et al. “Proposed diagnostic criteria for neurocysticercosis.” Neurology, 2001; 57:177-183.
  5. Del Brutto OH. “Diagnostic criteria for neurocysticercosis, revisited.” Pathogens and Global Health, 2012; 106(5):299-304.