Dr. Rajkumar PatilAsstt.Prof.,

Dept. of Community Medicine,AVMC, Pondicherry

Most common helminthic infestation

Cosmopolitan

Agent

Ascaris lumbricoides M-20cm F-30cm

Reservoir of infection

Man

Host

Children Host parasite balance Malnutrition

Period of communicability

Until all the stools are negative for the ascaris eggs

Environmental factors

Soil transmitted For years eggs can survive under favourable conditions Clay soils and low temperature are favourable Open air defecation

Mode of transmission

Faeco-oral (food,water,pica)

Incubation period

2 months

Ascaris lumbricoides life cycle

200,000 eggs/day

Embryonated egg

larva

Stage 2-3: 2-3 weeks, Stage 7-1: 2-3 months

Adult female Ascaris worm(1 ft)

Ascaris

Ascaris in appendix

Ascaris

Clinical features of ascaris infection

Nausea, abdominal pain, cough In severe cases:

Intestinal obstruction

Prevention and control of ascaris infection

1.Sanitation

Prevent soil contact : Do not contact the soil with bare hands in areas where ascariasis is common

Use of sanitary latrines

Do not use human excreta ,untreated sewage as manure in agriculture

2.Case finding, treatment, deworming

once/twice per year preschool and school-age children

women of childbearing age

3.Health Eduaction

use of saniatry latrine prevention of soil pollution diagnosis and treatment deworming

Drug

Albendazole

Mebendazole

Levamisole

Pyrantel

Dose

400 mg single dose

500 mgsingle dose

50-150 mg single dose

10 mg/kgdailyfor 3 days

C/I < 2 yr,pregnancy

<2 yr, pregnancy

<1 yr, kidney orliver disorder

<1 yr, kidney or liver disorder

Treatment of ascaris infection

Piperazine:75 mg/kg body weight (max. dose 3.5 g) for 2 days

Albendazole