Adventure Doc
keeping you healthy for life's adventures
Erik McLaughlin MD, MPH
Affiliates
HELMINTHES
Helminthes are basically, worms.
There are 3 main types of helminthes: Nematodes, Trematodes and Cestodes. Characteristics include multi-cellular bodies and complex life cycles involving maturation in host organisms. A characteristic finding in helminthes infection is eosinophelia (presence of eosinophil cells in blood). Unfortunately a very non-specific finding, overall.
HELMITHES
NEMATODES
TREMATODES
CESTODES
Nematodes are round worms, which are cylindrical and unsegmented. People get infected with this type by ingesting eggs of the worm, direct skin penetration or an insect bite. Examples of this type include:
Trematodes or "blood flukes", generally have an intermediate host such as a crab, snail or fish. These are symmetrical flatworms with a sucker on one end to hold onto the host.
Cestodes are flatworms or commonly know as tapeworms. There is a scolex (head) with suckers or hooks to attach to the host. They grow by adding proglottids (sections of body) from the rear.
PRODUCT REVIEWS
Filaria
Filaria are blood and tissue nematodes and get transmitted through an arthropod vector (fly or mosquito). Examples include:
