Enterobius vermicularis

• Minute intestinal ulcerations
• Severe pruritus ani, leading to haemorrhage and eczema
• Can produce appendicitis

• Spindle-shaped worms, males (5mm) and females (13mm)
  
• Inhabit caecum, appendix, adjoining gut, heads attached to mucosa
  
• Gravid females detach, migrate out to perianal skin (at night)
  
• Eggs deposited around anus (up to 11,000);
  
• female dies Eggs contain larvae, mature in 6 hrs 
  
• infective Reach mouth, larvae released into bowel, moulting en route,
  
• cycle complete in <>

• Anus to mouth directly
• Exposure to viable eggs on room furniture, door handles, etc.
• Air-borne from bed linen being aired etc.

• Furniture, bed linen, ass to mouth via hand vectors
• Only human host

• Combantrin, mebendazole, albendazole

• Mainly personal hygiene

• Cosmopolitan, more common n temperate regions
• Common in school chlidren

Category: Microbiology Notes