PARASITISM

What is parasitism?
Arelationshipinwhichonespecies,thep
arasite,benefitsatthe
expenseoftheother,thehost.

What is a parasite?
An organism that lives on or in a host and
gets its food from or at the expense of its
host.

What is a host?
An organism that harbors aparasite, or a
mutual orcommensalsymbiont, typically
providing nourishment and shelter.

Types of Parasitic Infections

Protozoa - single-celled organisms
that can live and multiply inside of
humans

Helminths - multi-celled organisms

that can live alone or in humans.

Ectoparasites - are multi-celled

organisms that live in or feed off of
the skin of humans

CHAIN OF INFECTION

Amebiasis
caused by the parasiteEntamoeba
histolytica
spread through food or water
contaminated with stools

Symptoms
Abdominal cramps
Diarrhea: Passage of 3to 8 semiformed stools
per day, orpassage of soft stools with mucus
and occasional blood
Fatigue
Excessive gas

 Rectal pain while having a bowel movement

(tenesmus)
Unintentional weight loss
Abdominal tenderness
Bloody stools, including passage of liquid
stools with streaks of blood, passage of 10to
20 stools per day
Fever
Vomiting

Hookworm
caused by roundworms that affects the small
intestine and lungs
walking where people who have hookworm
have made feces

Symptoms
Abdominal discomfort
Cough
Diarrhea
Fatigue
Fever
Gas
Itchy rash
Loss of appetite

Ascariasis
infection
with
the
parasitic
roundwormAscaris lumbricoides
consuming food or drink contaminated
with roundworm eggs

Symptoms
Bloody sputum
Cough
Low-gradefever
Passing worms in stool
Shortness of breath
Skin rash
Stomach pain

Pediculosis
infestation of the hairy parts of the body
or clothing with the eggs, larvae or adults
of lice
transmission can occur during direct
contact with an infested individual

Symptom
itching or scratching in the area of the
body where the lice feed

Filariasis
infection with parasites
nematodes (roundworms)

classified

as

Wuchereria bancrofti, which is responsible for

90% of the cases
Brugia malayi, which causes most of the
remainder of the cases
B. timori, which also causes the diseases.

filarial parasites are transmitted to humans

through mosquitoes

 Acute episodes of local inflammation

involving
skin,
lymph
nodes
and
lymphatic vessels often accompany the
chronic lymphoedema or elephantiasis

Tapeworm
intestinal infection with the tapeworm parasite
found in beef or pork.
caused by eating the raw or undercooked meat
of infected animals. Cattle usually carryTaenia
saginata(T. saginata). Pigs carryTaenia solium
(T. solium)

Symptoms
Tapeworm infection usually does not cause any
symptoms. However, some people may have
abdominal discomfort.
People often realize they are infected when
they pass segments of the worm in their stool,
especially if the segments are moving.

Whipworm
infection of the large intestine with a type
of roundworm, Trichuris trichiura
Children may become infected if they
swallow soil contaminated with whipworm
eggs

Symptoms
Bloodydiarrhea
Iron-deficiency anemia
Fecal incontinence(during sleep)
Rectal prolapse

Malaria
parasitic disease that involves high
fevers, shaking chills, flu-like symptoms,
and anemia
caused by a parasite that is passed from
one human to another by the bite of
infectedAnopheles mosquitoes

Symptoms
Anemia
Bloody stools
Chills
Coma
Convulsion
Fever
Headache

Fascioliasis
infection with the liver flukeFasciola
hepatica, which is acquired by eating
contaminated watercress or other water
plants

Symptoms
abdominal pain
hepatomegaly
nausea
vomiting
intermittent fever
urticarial eosinophilia
malaise
weight loss due to liver damage

Soil Transmitted
Helminth Control
Program
1. Improve governance through:
a. Policies/resolutions;
b. Securing budget for STH prevention and
control;
c. Mobilization and coordination of
sectoral support; and

2. Improve service quality and scale-up coverage.

a. Capacity building
1. Areas for training
> Epidemiology, life cycle etc.
> Proficiency training on lab diagnosis for med
techs/lab techs
> Annual/biannual updates on current
lab diagnosis

technology in

> Training on drug administration, side effects, etc

2. Target participants
3. Training mechanisms

b. Development and issuance of protocols

and guidelines
c. Expansion of service delivery points
d. Availability and affordability of deworming
drugs

3. Institute financing reforms

a. Efficiency in program implementation
b. Mobilization of resources
c. Strengthening LGU financing schemes

4. Strengthen regulations
5. Installation of management support
systems
a. Drug procurement
b. Research
c. Surveillance

Targets and Doses

1. Children aged 1 year to 12 years old
For children 12 24 months old
Albendazole - 200 mg, single dose every 6
months. Since the preparation is 400mg, the tablet is
halve and can be chewed by the child or taken with a
glass of water
Or
Mebendazole - 500 mg, single dose every 6 months

For children 24 months old and above

Albendazole - 400 mg, single dose every 6
months
Or
Mebendazole - 500 mg, single dose every 6
months

2. Adolescent females
It is recommended thatalladolescent females
who consult the health be given anthelminthic
drug
Albendazole400 mg once a year
Or
Mebendazole 500 mg once a year

3. Pregnant women
It is recommended thatallpregnant women
who consult the health be given anthelminthic
drug once in the 2ndtrimester of pregnancy.
-In areas where hookworm is endemic:
-Where hookworm prevalence is 20 30%
Albendazole400 mg once in the 2ndtrimester
Or
Mebendazole 500 mg once in the 2ndtrimester
-Where hookworm prevalence is > 50%, repeat
treatment in the 3rdtrimester

4. Special groups, e.g., food handlers and

operators, soldiers, farmers and indigenous
people
Selective deworming is the giving of anthelminthic
drug to an individual based on the diagnosis of
current infection. However, certain groups of people
should be given deworming drugs regardless of their
status once they consult the health center.

 Special groups like soldiers, farmers, food

handlers and operators, and indigenous people
are at risk of morbidity because of their
exposure to different intestinal parasites in
relation to their occupation or cultural
practices.
For the clients who will be dewormed
selectively, treatment shall given be anytime
at the health centers.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
OVERALL GOAL
Morbidity and other health effects of
soil transmitted helminthiasis and
other parasitoses are reduced

STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
Prevalence of STH and other parasitoses
among children is reduced
Coverage of deworming services is
increased
Proportion of targeted population with
observed healthy practices is increased

STRATEGIES
Local mass deworming integrated with other
national programs such as mass treatment
for filariasis and schistosomiasis, DepEd and
DSWDs CCT programs. Mass deworming
should be carried out for at least three
consecutive years among the target
population.

 Deworming
programs
integrated
with
nationwide immunization campaigns, and on a
regular or routine basis, with other programs
targeting children.
Advocacy, social preparations and mass media
campaign that precede and support the mass
treatment schedules.

 Personal hygiene and sanitation practices like

hand washing, proper food preparation, proper
footwear practices and proper human waste
disposal.
Provision of safe water and sanitation services.