Laura Nabarro

References Schantz PM. Tapeworms (cestodiasis). Gastroenterol Clin North Am. 1996;25(3):637–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0889-8553(05)70267-3. Article CAS PubMed Google Scholar Thompson RCA. Neglected zoonotic helminths: Hymenolepis nana, Echinococcus canadensis and Ancylostoma ceylanicum. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2015;21(5):426–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.CMI.2015.01.004. Article CAS PubMed Google Scholar Amare B, Ali J, Moges B, Yismaw G, Belyhun Y, Gebretsadik S, et al.

communicable diseases infectious disease medicine paediatrics child health Introduction Enterobiasis (‘threadworm’, ‘pinworm’) is likely the most common parasitic infection, with an estimated 1 billion people infected worldwide.1 Up to 30% of children globally are affected.2 The causative parasite is the nematode (roundworm), Enterobius vermicularis, transmitted via the faeco-oral route. Gravid adult females migrate from the gastrointestinal tract to lay eggs on perianal folds, usually at night.

Helminth infections frequently cause skin and soft tissue manifestations such as pruritus and urticarial rash. Common examples include Ascaris lumbricoides (Section 6.2.3), hookworm (Section 6.2.6), Strongyloides stercoralis (Section 6.2.1), visceral larva migrans (Section 6.1.4), Schistosoma spp. (Section 6.2.2) and Paragonimus westermani (Section 6.1.6). Sparganosis is rare but increasing in prevalence.278 Ectoparasites such as scabies may be associated with eosinophilia.