Anemia por uncinarias, una infección subestimada por el clínico / Hookworm anemia, an infection underestimated by clinician

La uncinariasis fue descrita por primera vez por Dubini en 1838. Es una helmintiasis intestinal causada por el Necator americanus y/o Ancylostoma duodenale. Frecuentemente son endémicas de áreas tropicales y subtropicales; afecta tanto a niños como a adultos. La transmisión asciende cuando existen entornos socioculturales y demográficos que favorecen la contaminación fecal, por lo que es considerado un problema de salud pública en el mundo. Se presenta el caso de un paciente masculino de 20 años que acudió a urgencias por astenia, adinamia, taquicardia y palidez mucocutánea generalizada; el hemograma reportó anemia severa y eosinofilia. Se requirió transfusión de 4 UI de glóbulos rojos y sulfato ferroso. El examen coprológico mostró infección por Necator americanus, que fue tratada con albendazol y, posteriormente, fue egresado de la institución sanitaria. La infección por uncinarias constituye una causa olvidada para el clínico de hemorragia de las vías digestivas y desarrollo de anemia. Por tanto, el presente estudio destaca que esta parasitosis es una causa importante en el diagnóstico diferencial. Además, se ofrece mayor importancia a las estrategias preventivas como la capacitación a profesionales de salud, el refuerzo de técnicas de aseo, la disminución de la contaminación y el aumento de la higiene personal(AU)

Hookworm infection was first described by Dubini in 1838. It is an intestinal helminth infection caused by Necator americanus and/or Ancylostoma duodenale. They are frequently endemic to tropical and subtropical areas and affect both children and adults. Transmission increases when there are socio-cultural and demographic environments that favor fecal contamination; therefore, it is a public health problem worldwide. We describe the case of a 20-year-old male patient who presented to the emergency department with asthenia, adynamia, tachycardia, and generalized mucocutaneous pallor. The blood test showed severe anemia and eosinophilia. Transfusion of 4 IU of red blood cells and ferrous sulphate was required. The coprological test showed infection by Necator americanus, which was treated with albendazole. Afterwards, the patient was discharged from the health institution. Hookworm infection is a neglected cause of gastrointestinal bleeding and anemia by the clinician. Therefore, the present study highlights this parasitosis as an important cause in the differential diagnosis. In addition, greater importance is given to preventive strategies such as training the health professionals, reinforcement of hygiene techniques, decrease of contamination and increase of proper personal hygiene(AU)

Atypical Presentation of Cutaneous Larva Migrans: A Case Report & Literature Review

Cutaneous larva migrans, also known as “migrant linear epidermitis”, “beach worm”, “migranthelminthiasis”, “dermatitis serpiginosus” or “creeping eruption”. It is a zoonosis which caused byaccidental percutaneous inoculation of helminth larvae, usually parasites of the small intestines of catsand dogs. It typically presents as an itchy, erythematous, serpiginous, cutaneous eruption. We describea case of disseminated and extensive infection of cutaneous larva migrans in a 21-year-old traveler,leading a delay in diagnosis and treatment.

Parasitoses intestinais / Intestinal parasitosis

As parasitoses intestinais são motivo comum de procura ao pediatra. O quadro clínico é variável. Os pais sempre relacionam várias queixas inespecíficas a este quadro. O assunto é de interesse dos profissionais da área de saúde, assim como dos gestores da saúde, pois existem áreas endêmicas em nosso País e a infecção pode agravar ou desencadear quadros de desnutrição e anemia. Uma preocupação é a sua ocorrência em pacientes com doenças imunossupressoras ou em uso de medicamentos que levam à imunossupressão. Parasitos que não levam à sintomatologia em imunocompetentes podem levar a quadros graves nos pacientes. A reinfecção é comum, portanto o tratamento consiste além do emprego de antiparasitários, em medidas de educação preventiva e de saneamento básico. Esse artigo faz uma revisão sobre prevalência, formas de transmissão, manifestações clínicas, diagnóstico e tratamento. Aborda protozooses emergentes, principalmente em imunodeprimidos e o uso de ivermectina e albendazol no tratamento da ascaridíase, estrongiloidíase e tricocefalíase...(AU)

Intestinal parasitosis is a frequent cause of paediatric attendance. Clinical presentation may vary and parents commonly relate uns- pecific complaints to parasitosis. This is a subject that concems health professionals and authorities since there are endemic areas in Brasil and parasite infection may lead to malnutrition and anae- mia or aggravate these conditions. Special attention should be given to patients with immunodepressant diseases or those using immunossupressant medicines, considering that severe disease may occur when they are infected with parasites that usuaJ/y are innocuous to immunocompetent individuais. Reinfection is com- mono Thus, treatment is based on antiparasitic drugs, education and sanitary measures. Prevalence, transmission, manifestation, diagnosis and treatment of the diseases are reviewed in this paper. Emerging protozoosis in immunocompromised patients, treatment of ascaridiasis, strongiloidiasis and trichocefaliasis with ivermectin and albendazol, are also included...

Preliminary assessment of the prevalence of hookworm infection in three communes of BacGiang province

This study is aimed to evaluate prevalence of hockworm infection in three mountainous and midland communes of BacGiang province. Results showed that general prevalence of hockworm infection in these populations was 28.7%, in farmers: 29.8%, the others: 21%. In hockworm infection people, the rate of anemia was 52.7%, no one suffered severe anemia. Anemia had bad influence to people’s health with symptoms of pale skin and mucosal lining, chronic fatigue, and dyspnea in effort