Helmiths
Infectious Diseases
Helmith = worm
Nematodes = round worms
Platyhelmiths = flat worms
- Tape worm aka cestoda
Pyrantel (combantrin) covers the first 3 round worms but not whip worm or dog hook worm
Praziquantel is first line for most flat worms except
Helmith = worm
Nematodes = round worms
- Round worm (Strongyloides, ..)
- Pin aka thread worm
- Hook worm
- Whip worm
- Filaroidae (elephantitis) (Mosquitos)
Platyhelmiths = flat worms
- Tape worm aka cestoda
- Echinococcus aka hydatid disease
- Taenia solium aka pork tape worm (larva is cause of neurocystercercosis)
- Taenia saginata aka beef tape worm
- Hymenolepis nana aka dwarf tape worm
- Schistosomiasis
- Clonorchis
- Opisthorchis
- Fasciola
Pyrantel (combantrin) covers the first 3 round worms but not whip worm or dog hook worm
- Very poorly absorbed by gut so good as only localises effect on worms
- Albendazole/mebendazole covers all common round worms
Praziquantel is first line for most flat worms except
- Triclabendazole is first line for Fasciola
- Echinococcus if symptomatic requires surgical excision of cysts and high dose albendazole
- (Praziquantel is some times added if there is intraop spillage or complicated dis)
- Unknown taeniasis or Taenia solium is treated with niclosamide as praz’s deep tissue effects can cause post treatment inflammation > irreversable ocular, nerve damage