Ascariasis

Ascariasis

• Ascariasis prevalence is higher in rainy seasons, underdeveloped, tropical, and subtropical countries.
• Humans are the definitive host.
• Fertilized eggs are mammillated.
• Fertilized eggs range from 85-95X43-47mm and are thin-shelled.
• Ascariasis eggs are resistant to chemical water purification but can be removed by filtration and killed by boiling.
• Ascariasis eggs embryonate but do not hatch until ingested by the host.
• Adult worms have three large rounded lips and measure 15-35cm.
• Female worms are longer than male worms.
• Ascariasis causes include using human feces as fertilizer and eating unwashed fruits and vegetables.
• Risk factors are using human feces as fertilizer, living in a warm climate, and a lack of sanitation infrastructure.
• Transmission is via the ingestion of water or food contaminated with A. lumbricoides eggs, definitive hosts are humans and pigs.
• The incubation period lasts around 2 months.
• Symptoms include fever, breathing difficulty, and urticaria.
• Infections with adult parasites show abdominal discomfort and are frequently asymptomatic.
• Worm migration can cause peritonitis, appendicitis, and severe inflammatory reactions.
• In diagnosis, stool microscopy, microscopic identification, and eosinophilia are key.
• Ascariasis can be confused with Salmonella infection, appendicitis, acute cholangitis, and small-bowel obstruction.
• Treatment includes Pyrantel pamoate.
• Complications include pancreatitis.
• Prevention methods are washing hands and maintaining hygiene, and proper diaper disposal.

Ancylostomiasis

• Geographic pattern includes worldwide prevalence, typically in areas with damp, temperate climates.
• It is estimated that more than 1.3 billion people are infected worldwide.
• Adult hookworms exhibit morphological features, with female worms averaging 10-13 mm x 0.6 mm. Males are 8-10 mm x 0.5 mm.
• Worms attach via mouthparts to the intestinal lining of the jejunum and duodenum.
• Eggs are oval, colorless, and about 60 µm x 40 μm.
• Humans are the definitive host.
• The life cycle includes eggs in stool which hatch in favorable conditions and worms living in the small intestine where larvae take 7-10 days to become infective.
• Walking barefoot over contaminated soil is a main cause.
• Risk factors include inadequate sanitation, optimal conditions for eggs, low socioeconomic status/education, and poor waste management.
• Transmission occurs through skin penetration.
• The incubation period is between a few days to many weeks.
• It also depends on the number of hookworm parasites.
• Symptoms include intestinal bleeding, itching, and malnutrition.
• Diagnosis includes microscopic stool examinations.
• Differential diagnosis includes amibiasis, giardiasis, and strongyloidiasis.
• Treatment includes Albendazole, Mebendazole, and Levamisole.
• Complications can affect the intestines, metabolism, and cardiovascular/respiratory systems.
• Prognosis includes worsened childhood development and intellectual performance from severe anemia when left untreated.
• Prevention involves wearing covered footwear in endemic areas, and washing hands after toilet use.

Strongyloidiasis

• This parasitic disease is caused by a nematode (roundworm).
• It geographically concentrates in tropical regions of Africa, Asia, and South America.
• Eggs contain larvae ready to hatch.
• Humans, dogs, and cats are the hosts.
• The invasive stage happens when skin is penetrated.
• Risk increases when traveling to South America, Africa, or other tropical regions.
• Transmission occurs through auto-infection and skin contact.
• The incubation period is between 14 - 30 days.
• Symptoms include diarrhea or alternating diarrhea/constipation and lower abdominal pain.
• Diagnosis is based on the microscopic examination of stool.
• A differential diagnosis to rule out is septicemia.
• Treatment includes Thiabendazole and Ivermectin.
• Pneumonia is typically not a complication and sequel, but gastrointestinal bleeding might be.
• Prevention includes using footwear in endemic areas.

Trichocephaliasis

• It is a parasitic disease caused by Trichuris trichiura.
• Adult female worms range from 30 to 50 mm long, and males are 30 to 45 mm long.
• The cause of infection is the ingestion of soil containing roundworm eggs
• Anemia is a main symptom.
• Rectal prolapse is a main complication of infection.
• Prevention is possible through proper food handling and improved facilities for feces disposal.

Trichinellosis

• This is a disease caused by a parasite.
• Male T. spiralis measure 1.4 to 1.6 mm long.
• Causation results from eating meat containing trichinellosis cysts.
• Undercooked meat is a main source of transmission.
• Incubation typically takes 8 to 15 days.
• Symptoms in the first stage include abdominal pain.
• Subsequent symptoms include itchy skin or rash, headache, and eye swelling.
• Diagnosis involves muscle biopsy, and blood tests.
• A differential diagnosis will examine food poisoning.
• Myocarditis, encephalitis, and meningitis can occur as complications.
• Prevention involves improved food safety, sufficient heating, and raw meat freezing.

Schistosomiasis

• This is a parasitic disease caused by a trematode.
• The infection is prevalent in tropical and subtropical areas globally.
• Annually, 2,000 deaths are attributed to schistosomiasis.
• Globally, the condition affects almost 24 million people.
• Adult males are 10 to 15 mm long. The shells of the eggs contain miracidia, and are between 110-170 µm long by 40 to 70 mm wide.
• The life cycle begins after eggs land in water and they become non-embryonated and develop larvae called miracidia.
• There is an association between the parasite's progress of infection and excystation in the duodenum.
• Living in schistosomiasis areas, and skin contact in contact with freshwater carries high risk.
• Transmission can be attributed to parasites penetrating the skin when wading or swimming.
• The incubation period is typically 14-84 days.
• Abdominal pain is an early symptom.
• Risk factors include living in infected areas and waterline contact.
• Diagnosis is possible through blood and present eggs of schistosomia in stool/urine samples.
• It is diagnosable through blood and stool/urine samples.
• It can be confused with peptic ulcer disease and pancreatitis.
• Severe sequelae can include carcinoma of the bladder.
• Prognosis includes renal failure due to obstructive uropathy.
• Prevention includes avoiding paddling/swimming in fresh water and boiling water before drinking.

Clonorchiasis Senensis

• This condition's geographic distribution includes Vietnam and Japan.
• Adult worms exhibit an elongated shape and reach a size of 10-15 X3-5mm with 4 suckers.
• Eggs are yellowish colored and peculated at 2 ends.
• Camels, humans, rats, and cats are all known definitive hosts.
• Causes include eating freshwater fish containing the fluke cyst.
• The illness also entails the risk of living by freshwater, with transmission route of eating contaminated fish.
• The incubation period is 1-2 months.
• Symptoms can include hepatomegaly a slight jaundice.
• Differential diagnosis encompasses fasciolopsiasis.
• Praziquantel is a successful treatment.
• Cholestatis cirrhosis as a complication, and in rare instances pancreatitis.
• Prognosis includes a proper and timely diagnosis for good results.
• Prevention includes sanitary disposal of excreta.

Fasciola Hepatica

• Etiology includes, eating, fluke-infested, fresh water raw or undercooked fish.
• Adult fluke morphology is a flat leaf-like shape and eggs are peculated and unembryonated.
• Sheep and cattle are definitive hosts.
• Snails are intermediate hosts.
• The lifecycle includes immature eggs discharged in biliary ducts and taken out in feces where they become non embryonated after landing in water.
• Risk also increased with eating undercooked livers of sheep and goats, as well as watercress.
• Hepatic tenderness, nausea, and fever are symptoms.
• Diagnosis is confirmed from stool samples.
• Treatment includes Triclabendazole and surgery.
• Health education is a core point of prevention.

Fasciolopsis Buski

• This group is classified as trematodes.
• Geographic distribution mainly in rural southeast Asia with a known infection prevalence in females and children of 10–14 years of age.
• Adult worms morphologically include a leaf-like shape.
• Eggs are thin-shelled, and adults are around 10-15 mm long.
• Hosts contain pigs, humans, dogs, and snails.
• This occurs by eating raw and uncooked aquatic plants.
• A lack of sufficient food and/or water can contribute to infection.
• Incubation period includes being others.
• The heavy infections results in anemia or swelling of the skin.
• Microscopic examination of stool may be used to detect the condition.
• Fasciolopsiasis buski shares qualities of chronic gastritis and prevention includes filtering water.

Diphyllobothrium Latum

• The adult worm segments have composed of three parts: Scolex, Neck, and Lower body.
• This is the longest tape worm.
• Raw or undercooked freshwater fish is a source of infection.
• Complications include infections leading to intestinal blockage.

Taeniasis Saginata and Taeniasis Solium

• Taeniasis saginata is a human parasitic infection caused by the beef tapeworm.
• Taeniasis Solium, on the other hand, is from pork.
• Taeniasis saginata encompasses worldwide distributions.
• Taeniasis solium encompasses Central/South America where Mexico/Venezuela/Chile are.
• Scolex of Taeniasis saginata is globular.
• Morphology of Taeniasis solium contains a quadrate scolex.
• The intermediate hosts include dogs and cats very rarely, for Hote of Taeniasis solium.
• Dogs, cats are hosts in Taeniasis solium very rarely.
• Transmissions comes from either eating or not eating undercooked meat.
• For Taeniasis solium, its intermediate hosts are dogs and cats very rarely.
• The incubation period for Taeniasis saginata is from around 2 to 3 months.
• The causes include ingesting raw or undercooked pork.
• Key symptom is the abdominal pain.
• Treatment of Taeniasis solium includes treatment with Niclosamide.

Hymenolepis Nana

• This or dwarf tapeworm is small and can be found in humans.
• Prevalent in hot countries.
• Children aged 4-10 have higher infection rate.
• Humans are definitive hosts.
• Beetles are the intermediate hosts.
• Humans become infected when they ingest contaminated material.
• Risk factors also include poor sanitation.
• In these instances of Hymenolepis nana, A diagnostic point is egg detection in stool.
• Colitis may be present.
• Medical treatments include medical Praziquantel.
• Both good hygiene as well as treating infected persons are key points.

Echinococcus Granulosus

• This can include good hygiene.
• This parasite, also called hydatid worm, is a cestode.
• Dogs are definitive hosts.
• Goats are intermediate hosts.
• Brain and biliary obstruction may require careful differential diagnosis.

Giardiasis

• This results from a parasite with Protozoan.
• In 2013, there were an estimated 280 million cases in the world.
• The infective stage is Giardia cysts, cause by contact with an infected person.
• The illness affects travelers to endemic areas sexually active homosexual men.
• Pools also become transmission sites.
• Weight loss and bloating are present along with complications.
• There are blood or bile.
• Prognosis includes the potential that is good while re-infection can occur.

Trichomoniasis Vaginalis

• This presents with a common STI where annually has an infection of an estimated 248 million people.
• The incubation ranges on average from 3-28 days.
• May cause burning with urination for women as well as vaginal discomfort and must also address males to treat the infection who may not present with symptoms.
• The cure rate for diagnosis of Trichomonas vaginalis is high when both partners are treated.

Amebiasis

• This is caused by Entamoeba Histolytica.
• It is most common in developing countries.
• Those at greater risk include travelers to endemic areas, male homosexuals, and institutionalized populations.
• Higher prevalence is present in tropical and subtropical regions.
• The leading cause of mortality due to parasitic disease in humans.
• Humans are the primary hosts.
• Most infected individuals are asymptomatic with very simple lifecycle.
• Stool examinations that look for the presence of ova and parasites are used for testing.
• As intestinal amebiasis is highly fatal.
• Dysentery marks the onset of serious illness.
• Mild infections can require treatment with drugs.
• In many instances patients may require extra intestinal drug treatment with a number of medications.

Balantidiasis

• This results from Balantidium coli.
• The trophozoite forms extend to approximately 50-130 μm long with cyst forms that require only macronucleus.
• Human, dogs or pigs are hosts.
• Diarrhea is the key initial symptom.
• Drugs are administered for this treatment.
• Incubation time may vary.

Leishmaniasis

• Caused by different species of protozoa
• Transmitted by the bite of sand flies
• Risk include from deforestation to urbanization
• Clinical symptoms in skin include large skin lesions, systemic symptoms
• Complications range from disfigurement to deadly infections from immune damage
• Prevention requires preventing sand fly bites

Malaria

• caused by Plasmodium
• transmitted to humans via mosquitos
• Africa and Asia
• Main symptom- fever
• Diagnostic- blood exam
• Prevention- treated mosquito nets

Candidiasis

• Candida parapsilosis caused by patients with neutropenia
• Portals of entry GI tract
• Chemo can lead to oral
• The reservoir in humans includes the vagina and pharnyx
• Risk factors can include: immuno compromise and GI surgery
• Thrust symptom is white patches in the mouth
• Vaginal symptoms with discomfort during intercourse
• Treatment is mainly by microscopic examination and that of bloodstream is deep Candidiasis and prognosis is good due to recurrance

Cryptococcosis

• caused by fungus
• Transmission by inhilation
• Symtpoms:
  • Lung- breathing and cough
  • Meningitis- vision and headache
  • Skin- bumps
• Long lasting neurological damage complication
• Prevent- remove bird droppings