Community Health Nursing

.Instructor Mr
Bashar Qasho’o

:St. Name
Bassam N. Hariri

ID: 20710486

2011_2010
 Ascariasis
Learning Objective:
1. Define the ascariasis.
2. Identify it’s causes, pathophysiology and
clinical manifestations.
3. Assessment and diagnostic findings for it.
4. Know about the drug used to treatment of
ascariasis.
5. Nursing interventions and management for
patients with ascariasis.
 Definition
Ascaris infection is one of the most common
intestinal worm infections.
It is found in association with poor personal
hygiene, poor sanitation, and in places
where human feces are used as fertilizer.
 Geographic Distribution

• The geographic distributions of Ascaris are

worldwide in areas with warm, moist
climates and are widely overlapping.
• Infection occurs worldwide and is most
common in tropical and subtropical areas
where sanitation and hygiene are poor.
Causal Agent )Etiology):
• Ascaris lumbricoides is the largest
nematode (roundworm) parasitizing the
human intestine.
• (Adult females: 20 to 35 cm; adult male:
15 to 30 cm).
• Is found commonly in lumen of small
intestine
• Adult worms (1) live in the lumen of the small intestine. A
female may produce approximately 200,000 eggs per
day, which are passed with the feces (2) . Unfertilized
eggs may be ingested but are not infective. Fertile eggs
embryonate and become infective after 18 days to
several weeks (3) , depending on the environmental
conditions (optimum: moist, warm, shaded soil). After
infective eggs are swallowed (4) , the larvae hatch (5) ,
invade the intestinal mucosa, and are carried via the
portal, then systemic circulation to the lungs (6) . The
larvae mature further in the lungs (10 to 14 days),
penetrate the alveolar walls, ascend the bronchial tree to
the throat, and are swallowed (7) . Upon reaching the
small intestine, they develop into adult worms (1) .
Between 2 and 3 months are required from ingestion of
the infective eggs to oviposition by the adult female.
Adult worms can live 1 to 2 years.
 Clinical Manifestations
• People infected with Ascaris often show
no symptoms.
• If symptoms do occur they can be light
and include abdominal discomfort.
• Heavy infections can cause intestinal
blockage and impair growth in children.
• Other symptoms such as cough are due to
migration of the worms through the body.
 Diagnosis
• Health care providers can diagnose ascariasis
by taking a stool sample and using a microscope
to look for the presence of eggs.
• Some people notice infection when a worm is
passed in their stool or is coughed up.
• If this happens, bring in the worm specimen to
your health care provider for diagnosis.
 Medical Management
• Anthelminthic medications (drugs that rid
the body of parasitic worms), such as
albendazole and mebendazole, are the
drugs of choice for treatment of Ascaris
infections.
• Infections are generally treated for 1-3
days. The drugs are effective and appear
to have few side effects
 Prevention and Nursing Care
• Children and adults must be provided with clean,
comfortable toilets.
• Children must be taught to use them for each defecation.
• Wash hands after defecation and before feeding.
• Careful washing of toy, raw vegetables.
• All infected persons must receive treatment.

• In hospital, teach mother about:

1. Careful disposal of stools.
2. Hygienic care and preventive measurs
 References
• D W T Crompton, L Savioli. Handbook of
helminthiasis for public Health. CRC Press:
Taylor & Francis Group. Boca Raton, FL; 2007
• Bethony J, Brooker S, Albonico M, Geiger
Stefan M, Loukas A, Diement D, Hotez PJ. Soil-
transmitted helminth infections: ascariasis,
trichuriasis, and hookworm. Lancet. 2006;367:
1521-32
• Crompton, DW. Ascaris and ascariasis. Adv
Parasitol. 2001;48:285-375.