Hymenolepis nana (continue)
Anticipatory
Do you know what the commonest tapeworm in Egypt
Objectives
- To know the pathognomonic symptoms and
signs.
- To know the available tools for proper diagnosis
of hymenolepiasis nana.
- To list drugs which treat this infection.
- To know prevention and control of this infection.
Pathogenesis and Clinical Picture
- Light
infection gives rise to no manifestation.
- Heavy infection especially in children leads to abdominal pain, loss of appetite, diarrhea or vomiting. Nervous manifestations as dizziness, insomnia and convulsions may occur due to absorption of toxic byproducts of the worm.
Diagnosis
Detection of eggs in faeces.
Treatment
- Praziquantel is the drug of choice. Treatment should be repeated after 10 days due to liberation of cysticercoid from submucosa into the intestinal lumen.
- Treatment of all members of the family at the same time, as the eggs are immediately infective.
Prevention and Control
- Personal hygiene, particularly in children.
- Mass treatment.
- Avoiding contaminated food or drink.
- Elimination of arthropods and rodent control.
- Environmental sanitation.
Cloze Activity
Read the paragraph below and fill in the missing words.
is the drug of choice in Hymenolepis nana infection.
Transition
Now let us discover what the rat tape worm is.