34 GI Nematodes

Tom Doherty/Paul Pottinger 20/09/18

Also called soil transmitted helminths

34.1 Pinworm

Enterobius vermicularis

34.2 Lifecycle

They will have sex in rectum.

Female will leave rectum and leave eggs at anus.

Human will scratch and transmit orally.

These will enter human and multiply in gut

34.3 Epidemioogy

Global infection.

All socioeconomic groups infected

34.4 Clinical Infection

Usually asymptomatic

Pruritis ani

But also vaginal discharge syndrome sometimes, with secondary infection

And rarely appendicitis (is it def causal? Who knows)

34.5 Path

No effective host response, so no eosinophilia

34.6 Diagnosis

Find the eggs!

No shower, morning perianal cellophane tape prep. Repeat up to 6x.

These are not even needing stained.

Scrape under fingernails

34.7 Treat

Albendazole Pyrantel Pamoate

These drugs are single doses

34.7.1 Break Cycle

Improved personal hygiene.

These eggs are hardy and can be spread airborne when changing sheets!