Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 2, 2026
10:57
Determining Soil-transmitted Helminth Infection Status and Physical Fitness of School-aged Children
Published on: August 22, 2012
23.1K
Oral helminthic infestations.
Yazan Hassona1, Crispian Scully, Wilson Delgado-Azanero
1Department of Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Pathology and Periodontics, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan; WHO Collaborating Centre for Oral Health-General Health, Oral Medicine, Bristol Dental Hospital and School, Bristol, UK.
Journal of Investigative and Clinical Dentistry
|February 28, 2014
Summary
Oral helminthic infections, though rare, are reviewed here. Diagnosis typically requires histopathology, with surgical excision as the primary treatment for localized oral lesions.
Area of Science:
- Parasitology
- Oral Medicine
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Oral helminthic infections are uncommon in clinical settings.
- Limited medical and dental literature exists on these conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the English literature on oral helminthic infestations.
- To summarize the types, clinical presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of oral helminthic infections.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive review of English-language literature on oral helminthic infections.
- Categorization of infections by helminth type (roundworm and tapeworm).
Main Results:
- Identified seven main oral helminthic infections: four roundworm (trichinosis, trichuriasis, filariasis, larva migrans) and three tapeworm (cysticercosis, sparganosis, echinococcosis).
- Infections are primarily found in endemic regions and usually present with benign clinical features.
- Histopathological examination, revealing parasitic larvae within fibrous tissue and inflammatory cells, is the key diagnostic method.
Conclusions:
- Oral helminthic infections require thorough medical evaluation to rule out systemic involvement.
- Surgical excision is the standard treatment for isolated oral lesions caused by helminths.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Anthelminthic Agents
103
Anthelmintic drugs differ significantly from antiparasitic therapies targeting protozoa, primarily due to differences in parasite biology. Whereas most protozoal treatments act on proliferating cells, anthelmintics are typically directed against mature, nonproliferative helminths. The therapeutic approach considers the helminth's reliance on neuromuscular coordination, glucose metabolism, and microtubular integrity for survival, reproduction, and localization within the host. Most anthelmintics...
103
01:22Microbial Interactions: Parasitism
108
Parasitism is a form of microbial interaction in which parasitic microbes exploit a host organism for nutrients and shelter, often at the host's expense. Unlike mutualistic relationships, where both organisms benefit, parasitism benefits only the parasite and harms the host.Classification of ParasitesMicrobial parasites are broadly classified based on their location relative to the host.Ectoparasites remain on the host’s surface, such as the skin or outer tissues, drawing nutrients...
108
01:26Sexually Transmitted Infections
2.0K
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are diseases transmitted primarily through unsafe sexual interactions. Bacteria, viruses, or parasites cause them and can result in severe health complications if untreated.ChlamydiaThe bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis is responsible for the disease Chlamydia, the most common STI in the United States. This peculiar pathogen requires human cells to reproduce, residing intracellularly. The initial infection often goes unnoticed because it typically does not...
2.0K
01:28Fungal Phylum Microsporidia
782
Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...
782
01:27Peptic Ulcer
48
Peptic ulcers are erosive lesions of the gastric or duodenal lining, most commonly caused by Helicobacter pylori infection. This Gram-negative, helical bacterium has adapted to survive the stomach’s acidic environment by producing urease, which converts urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide. The ammonia neutralizes gastric acid in the bacterium’s immediate environment, allowing colonization of the gastric mucosa. H. pylori attaches to mucus-secreting epithelial cells, penetrates the...
48
01:26Healthcare Associated Infections I: Iatrogenic, Exogenic and Endogenic
5.7K
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) occur in a healthcare facility while a person receives care for another ailment. This category also includes work-related infections among healthcare staff.
HAIs significantly increase the cost of health care. Extended stays in healthcare institutions, increased disability, increased costs of medications, including specialized antibiotics, and prolonged recovery times add to the patient's expenses and the healthcare institution and funding bodies.
HAIs significantly increase the cost of health care. Extended stays in healthcare institutions, increased disability, increased costs of medications, including specialized antibiotics, and prolonged recovery times add to the patient's expenses and the healthcare institution and funding bodies.
5.7K