Medical Parasitology Overview

The study of organisms that live in or on another organism and depend on it for survival, often at the host's expense.

A branch of medicine that deals with diseases common in tropical regions, often caused by parasites.

A close and long-term relationship between two different species.

A type of symbiotic relationship where one species benefits while the other is neither harmed nor benefited.

A type of symbiotic relationship where both species involved benefit from the relationship.

A type of symbiotic relationship where one species, called the parasite, benefits at the expense of the other, called the host.

A parasite that lives inside the body of its host.

A parasite that lives outside the body of its host.

A vector that transmits a parasite only after the parasite has completed its development within the host. It's an essential part of the parasite's life cycle.

A vector that only transports the parasite, without any development within the vector. It acts as a carrier.

An individual who harbors a specific pathogen but shows no signs or symptoms of the disease.

The process of being exposed to an infectious agent. It's the moment of contact with the parasite.

The establishment of a parasitic infection in the host. It means the parasite has successfully colonized the host.

The period between infection and the appearance of symptoms. This is the time when the parasite is multiplying in the host but not yet causing noticeable effects.

The period between infection or acquisition of a parasite and the detection of infection through tests or observation. It's the time when the parasite is present but may not be detectable.

When an infected person becomes re-infected with the same parasite species. This can lead to a more severe infection or a large increase in the parasite burden.

The most common way parasitic infections spread is through contaminated food and water.

The mouth is the most common entry point for parasites due to the consumption of contaminated food and water.

Many parasitic infections are transmitted through contaminated food, including Taenia solium, Taenia saginata, Diphyllobothrium latum, Entamoeba histolytica, and Giardia lamblia.

Consuming infected raw or undercooked freshwater fish can lead to infections with Clonorchis, Opistorchis, and Haplorchis.

Hookworms and Strongyloides enter the body through the skin when it comes into contact with contaminated soil.

Schistosoma species enter the body through the skin when it comes into contact with contaminated water.

Some parasitic infections are transmitted through the skin, such as hookworm, Strongyloides, and Schistosoma.

Parasites like Capillaria philippinensis, Enterobius vermicularis, Hymenolepis nana, and Strongyloides stercoralis can be transmitted through autoinfection, where the infected person themselves are the source.

The number of new cases of an infection appearing in a population during a specific time period.

The study of how diseases spread and impact populations, including their distribution and patterns.

A host where a parasite reaches its sexually mature stage, often resulting in reproduction.

An organism that transmits a parasite to another host, often through bites or other contact.

The life cycle of a parasite, encompassing the stages it goes through in different hosts and environments.

A host that harbors a parasite during its larval stages, acting as a temporary intermediate before the final host.

The transmission of parasites from a mother to her offspring during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

The transmission of parasites through direct contact with contaminated soil or water.

The percentage of individuals within a population infected with a specific parasite at a given time.

The percentage of individuals within a population infected with at least one parasite.

The number of worms a person has, measured directly by counting expelled worms or indirectly by counting eggs in feces.

The use of anthelminthic drugs to treat parasitic infections, either for individuals or in public health programs.

The percentage of people previously infected with a parasite who no longer test positive for it after deworming.

The percentage decrease in the number of parasite eggs after deworming, measured by analyzing stool or urine samples.

Individual-level deworming where treatment selection is based on diagnosis of infection, intensity of infection, or risk factors.

Group-level deworming where treatment is given to specific groups (e.g., by age, sex, or other social characteristics) without prior diagnosis.

The effect of a drug against an infective agent in ideal experimental conditions, isolated from any context.

A measure of the effect of a drug against an infective agent in a particular host, living in a particular environment with specific ecological, immunological, and epidemiological determinants.

A genetically transmitted loss of susceptibility to a drug in a parasite population that was previously sensitive to the appropriate therapeutic dose.

The avoidance of illness caused by infections, often achieved by providing regular deworming treatments to people at risk.

A health education strategy that aims to encourage people to adopt and maintain healthy life practices.

The planning, organization, performance, and monitoring of activities for the modification and/or manipulation of environmental factors or their interaction with human beings with a view to preventing or minimizing vector or intermediate host propagation and reducing contact between humans and the infective agent.

Interventions to reduce environmental health risks, including the safe disposal and hygienic management of human and animal excreta, refuse, and waste water.

A permanent reduction to zero of the worldwide incidence of infection caused by a specific agent, as a result of deliberate efforts.