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Ascariasis

Disease Details

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Description: Ascariasis is a parasitic infection caused by the roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides, leading to potential malnutrition and intestinal blockage.
Type: Ascariasis is classified as a parasitic infection. It is not genetically transmitted; instead, it is acquired through ingestion of food or water contaminated with Ascaris lumbricoides eggs.
Signs And Symptoms: In populations where worm infections are widespread, it is common to find that most people are infected by a small number of worms, while a small number of people are heavily infected. This is characteristic of many types of worm infections. Those people who are infected with only a small number of worms usually have no symptoms.
Prognosis: It is rare for infections to be life-threatening.
Onset: The onset of ascariasis typically occurs when a person ingests Ascaris lumbricoides eggs from contaminated food, water, or soil. The eggs hatch into larvae in the intestine and migrate through various tissues. Symptoms usually develop a few weeks to a few months after ingestion. Early signs can include mild abdominal discomfort, coughing, and shortness of breath if the larvae migrate to the lungs. In heavy infestations, symptoms may be more severe, including intestinal blockages, malnutrition, and growth delays in children. Nan is not applicable in this context.
Prevalence: Ascariasis is a parasitic infection caused by the roundworm *Ascaris lumbricoides*. It is highly prevalent in tropical and subtropical regions, particularly in areas with poor sanitation. An estimated 1.2 billion people globally are affected by ascariasis, making it one of the most common infections worldwide.
Epidemiology: Ascariasis is a parasitic infection caused by the roundworm *Ascaris lumbricoides*. It is one of the most common helminthic human infections globally.

- **Epidemiology**: Ascariasis predominantly affects tropical and subtropical regions, particularly in areas with poor sanitation and hygiene. It is most prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, China, and East Asia. Children are more commonly affected than adults. The estimated global burden is over 800 million cases, with significant morbidity due to malnutrition, impaired growth, and intestinal obstruction.

If you provide clarification on what "nan" refers to or need specific details, I'll be happy to assist further.
Intractability: Ascariasis is generally not considered intractable. It is a parasitic infection caused by the roundworm *Ascaris lumbricoides*. Effective treatments are available, primarily involving antiparasitic medications such as albendazole or mebendazole. Proper sanitation and hygiene practices can prevent reinfection and control the spread of the disease.
Disease Severity: Ascariasis is an infection caused by the parasitic roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides.

- **Disease Severity**: The severity of ascariasis can vary widely. Many cases are asymptomatic, especially in individuals with a low worm burden. Mild symptoms can include abdominal discomfort and nausea. Severe cases, often due to a high worm burden, can lead to more serious complications such as intestinal blockage, malnutrition, impaired growth in children, and problems affecting the liver or pancreas. In rare cases, large numbers of worms can migrate, causing respiratory symptoms or other severe complications.

- **Nan**: As an abbreviation, 'nan' can stand for various things, but it is often used to denote "not a number" or missing data, especially in computational contexts. If you meant something different by 'nan', please provide more context for an accurate response.
Healthcare Professionals: Disease Ontology ID - DOID:456
Pathophysiology: Ascariasis is a parasitic infection caused by the roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides. The pathophysiology involves the ingestion of embryonated eggs, usually from contaminated soil or food. The eggs hatch in the intestines, releasing larvae that penetrate the intestinal wall and enter the bloodstream. These larvae migrate to the lungs, ascend the respiratory tract to the throat, and are then swallowed back into the intestines, where they mature into adult worms. The adult worms live in the small intestine, where they can cause nutritional deficiencies, intestinal obstruction, and other complications.
Carrier Status: Ascariasis is caused by the parasitic roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides.

### Carrier Status:
Humans are the primary hosts for the parasite; animals generally do not play a significant role in its transmission. People can carry the infection asymptomatically, particularly in areas with poor sanitation, thereby contributing to the spread of the parasite through fecal contamination of soil.

### Nan:
There are no specific nanotechnology applications currently widely used for the diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of ascariasis.
Mechanism: Ascaris takes most of its nutrients from the partially digested host food in the intestine. There is some evidence that it can secrete enzyme inhibitors, presumably to protect itself from digestion by the hosts' enzymes. Children are often more severely affected.
Treatment: Ascariasis is treated primarily with antiparasitic medications. The drugs most commonly used are:

1. Albendazole
2. Mebendazole

These medications are typically given in a single dose and are effective in eliminating the parasites. In some cases, a second dose might be required after a couple of weeks to ensure complete eradication. For severe infestations, especially when there are complications like intestinal obstruction, more intensive medical interventions, including possible surgery, may be necessary.
Compassionate Use Treatment: For ascariasis, compassionate use treatments and off-label or experimental treatments are generally not the first line of approach, as well-established anti-parasitic medications like albendazole and mebendazole are typically effective. However, in certain circumstances, other treatments might be considered:

1. **Compassionate Use Treatments**:
- **Ivermectin**: While not the first choice, ivermectin can be used in cases where standard treatments are ineffective or contraindicated. It is usually reserved for more complex cases involving mixed parasitic infections.

2. **Off-label or Experimental Treatments**:
- **Nitazoxanide**: This broad-spectrum antiparasitic has shown some effectiveness against a range of parasites and may be explored experimentally in cases where typical treatments fail.
- **Tribendimidine**: An anthelmintic drug used in China, tribendimidine is being investigated for its efficacy against various parasitic infections, including ascariasis, but it is not yet widely adopted internationally.

In general, these treatments are rarely needed given the high efficacy of first-line medications. Any use of off-label or experimental treatments should be closely monitored by healthcare professionals.
Lifestyle Recommendations: Lifestyle recommendations for preventing and managing ascariasis:

1. **Sanitation and Hygiene**:
- Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before eating and after using the bathroom.
- Ensure that fruits and vegetables are properly washed or peeled before consumption.

2. **Safe Food Practices**:
- Avoid consuming raw or undercooked foods that could be contaminated with soil.

3. **Sanitary Disposal**:
- Use proper sanitary facilities to dispose of human feces to prevent soil contamination.

4. **Environmental Control**:
- Avoid defecation in open areas.
- Implement community-based sanitation programs in endemic areas to control and prevent soil contamination.

5. **Health Education**:
- Educate community members, especially in endemic regions, about how ascariasis spreads and ways to prevent it.

6. **Regular Deworming**:
- In endemic areas, regular deworming, particularly in children, can help control and prevent heavy infestations.

Adopting these lifestyle recommendations can help reduce the risk of infection and manage the health impacts of ascariasis.
Medication: Medications that are used to kill roundworms are called ascaricides. Those recommended by the World Health Organization for ascariasis are: albendazole, mebendazole, levamisole and pyrantel pamoate. Single‐dose of albendazole, mebendazole, and ivermectin are effective against ascariasis. They are effective at removing parasites and eggs from the intestines. Other effective agents include tribendimidine and nitazoxanide. Pyrantel pamoate may induce intestinal obstruction in a heavy worm load. Albendazole is contraindicated during pregnancy and children under two years of age. Thiabendazole may cause migration of the worm into the esophagus, so it is usually combined with piperazine.Piperazine is a flaccid paralyzing agent that blocks the response of Ascaris muscle to acetylcholine, which immobilizes the worm. It prevents migration when treatment is accomplished with weak drugs such as thiabendazole. If used by itself, it causes the worm to be passed out in the feces and may be used when worms have caused blockage of the intestine or the biliary duct.Corticosteroids can treat some of the symptoms, such as inflammation.
Repurposable Drugs: Repurposable drugs for treating ascariasis, a parasitic infection caused by Ascaris lumbricoides, include several anthelmintic medications such as:

1. Albendazole
2. Mebendazole
3. Ivermectin

These drugs are typically used to treat various helminth infections and have been repurposed effectively for ascariasis. Albendazole and Mebendazole are generally the first-line treatments, with Ivermectin being an alternative.

"Nan" is unclear in this context and does not provide sufficient information. If you meant "not applicable" or "none", please specify accordingly for accurate information.
Metabolites: Ascariasis is caused by the parasitic roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides. The metabolites of these parasites mainly include waste products and excretory/secretory products that they release into the host's body. These compounds can induce inflammation and other immune responses. Specific metabolites have not been pinpointed, but they generally consist of proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates that interact with the host's immune system.
Nutraceuticals: Nutraceuticals for ascariasis management are not well-documented or proven through significant clinical studies. The primary treatment involves antiparasitic medications such as albendazole or mebendazole. There is currently no evidence supporting the use of nutraceuticals like vitamins, minerals, or herbal supplements as a substitute for these established treatments.

Nanotechnology applications (nanomedicine) for ascariasis are still in the experimental stages. Research is ongoing to explore the potential for nanoparticles to deliver antiparasitic drugs more effectively, minimize side effects, or enhance immune responses. However, these approaches are not yet available as standard treatments for ascariasis.
Peptides: Ascariasis is caused by the parasitic worm *Ascaris lumbricoides*. In the context of peptides and nanotechnology (nan), the development of diagnostic and therapeutic tools is ongoing. Peptides could be employed to create specific biomarkers for the parasite, aiding in the detection and diagnosis of ascariasis. Nanotechnology can enhance drug delivery systems, ensuring targeted delivery of antiparasitic medications, potentially reducing side effects and increasing treatment efficacy.