ASCARIASIS 

 
Ascariasis – is a intestinal parasitic disease caused by
species of roundworm of the class Nematoda, and can
cause intestinal and lung damage.

 Ascaris lumbricoides, an intestinal roundworm, is

one of the most common helminthic human infec-
tions worldwide.

 Highest prevalence in tropical and subtropical re-

gions, and areas with inadequate sanitation. As-
cariasis occurs in rural areas of the southeastern
United States.
  Transmission — Transmission occurs mainly via inges-
tion of water or food (raw vegetables or fruit in partic-
ular) contaminated with A. lumbricoides eggs and oc-
casionally via inhalation of contaminated dust. Chil-
dren playing in contaminated soil may acquire the par-
asite from their hands.
 Transplacental migration of larvae has also occasion-
ally been reported.
 Pathophysiologic mechanisms include

 Direct tissue damage

 The immunologic response of the host to in-
fection with larvae, eggs or adult worms
 Obstruction of an orifice or the lumen of the
gastrointestinal tract by an aggregation of
worms
 Nutritional sequelae of infection
 INTESTINAL SYMPTOMS
 Heavy infections with Ascaris are frequently
believed to result in:
 Abdominal discomfort,
 Anorexia,
 Nausea
 Diarrhea.
 TREATMENT
 Choice of Drugs — A number of drugs can be used in the treatment
of ascariasis:
 * Pyrantel pamoate (11 mg/kg up to a maximum of 1 g) is effective
in eradicating adult worms.
  * Mebendazole (100 mg BID for 3 days or 500 mg as a single dose).
  * Albendazole — A single dose of albendazole (400 mg) is effective
in almost 100 percent of cases.
  Ivermectin — Ivermectin causes paralysis of adult worms and is ap-
proximately as effective as other available therapies but is not gener-
ally used.
  * Piperazine citrate — Piperazine citrate (50 to 75 mg/kg QD up to
a maximum of 3.5 g for 2 days) is used seldom because of the big
toxicity
  * Levamisole — Levamisole (150 mg for adults and 5 mg/kg for
children) is safe and is effective in 77 to 96 percent of cases of ascari-
asis.
 PREVENTION
 Good sanitation to prevent fecal contamination
of soil is required. Soil treatments have been
attempted but are generally not practical.
  
 Mass treatments with single dose mebendazole
or albendazole for all school-age children ev-
ery three to four months has been used in some
communities.
Habiba Afua Ali -BSSN/WD/211082
Randa Beims Akwaboah-BSSN/DD/211216
Precious Honu --BSSN/DD/211142
Helena Kpentey-BSSN/DD/211164