COMPENDIUM ON FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE - Flipbook - Page 265
Prevalence: Most common helminthic infection in the United
States, affecting up to 50% of children in some communities [11].
Transmission Mechanisms:
● Primary route: Direct transfer of eggs via:
○ Hand-to-mouth after touching contaminated surfaces
○ Inhalation of airborne eggs in household dust
○ Auto-infection through scratching and reinoculation
● Secondary route: Sharing of contaminated bedding,
clothing, or bathroom facilities
Clinical Significance: Causes enterobiasis, characterized by
perianal itching, restless sleep, and irritability.
Unique Features: Female worms migrate to the perianal region at
night to deposit eggs, facilitating transmission.
Ascaris lumbricoides
Prevalence: Affects approximately 807-1,121 million people
globally, primarily in tropical and subtropical regions with poor
sanitation [12].
Transmission Mechanisms:
● Primary route: Ingestion of embryonated eggs from:
○ Soil contaminated with human feces
○ Unwashed vegetables grown in contaminated soil
○ Contaminated water sources
Note: Unlike some other soil-transmitted helminths, Ascaris
requires a developmental period in soil and cannot be
directly transmitted person-to-person
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