Important Notes Human Health and Disease: Disease Caused by Helminthes & Fungi

DISEASES CAUSED BY HELMINTHES

Caused by the parasitic roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides.
Usually, the infection does not yield any visible symptoms in initial stages when the number of worms is small
Majorly seen in children ( due to the habit of eating soil and clay, infected by the eggs of Ascaris.)
A large number of adult Ascaris worms normally infest a single host. So there is no secondary host in the life cycle of this parasite.

Symptoms

Precaution

Since the main source of infection is the pollution of soil, water, vegetables, therefore at most care should be taken in the dispersal of human fecal matter.
Washing Vegetables and fruits properly before eating.
Discourage the habit of eating soil in Children.

Treatment

By administering antihelminthic drugs (Example: oil of chenopodium, Bendex, Zental, Alcopar, and Dewormis)

It also is known as lymphatic filariasis (LF) is a parasitic disease caused by an infection with roundworms of the Filarioidea type, Wuchereria (W. bancrofti and W. malayi).

Symptoms

It causes chronic inflammation in the lower limbs and thus the disease is called elephantiasis or filariasis. The infection is transmitted to healthy individuals via the bite of the Culex mosquito Vectors.
Filariasis is chronic and very painful.
Affects genital organs, resulting in gross deformities.

Ringworm is a common fungal infection of the skin and is not due to a worm.
These are caused by Fungi such as Microsporum (It attacks the hair and skin but usually not the nails), Trichophyton (It infects skin, hair, and nails) and Epidermophyton (It infects the skin and nails but not the hair).
There is the appearance of dry, scaly lesions on different parts of the body such as skin, scalp, nails etc.

Tinea cruis: The groin and the perineum are involved.

Tinea barbae: bearded areas of the face and neck are involved.

Tinea pedis or athletes & foot: ring worm of foot

Tinea capitis: ringworm of the scalp.

Fungal meningitis refers to meningitis caused by a fungal infection. One form of fungal meningitis is cryptococcal meningitis
Fungal meningitis is rare, the most common cause is Cryptococcus spp. infection, but many other fungi may occasionally cause meningitis.
Symptoms: Fever, Headache, Stiff neck, Nausea and vomiting, Photophobia (sensitivity to light), Altered mental status (confusion).

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