Parasitic diseases (pediatrics)

The most common parasitic diseases  in childhood include both endopatasitoses and ectoparasitoses.

Ticks
In the Czech Republic, it is mainly the species Ixodes ricinus.


 * Zoonotic carrier (Borrelia burgdorferi s.l., tick-borne encephalitis virus, Babesie, Ehrlichie,…)

Some tick species produce a tick toxin which, when the tick sucks, is injected into the body during saliva sucking and causes botulism -like symptoms (tick paralysis). In extreme cases, it can also cause paralysis of the respiratory muscles. The treatment is to remove the tick, often hidden in the scalp, behind the ears or around the genitals; symptoms typicaly disappear within 15 minutes of removal. These tick species occur mainly in the United States and Australia.

Lice
Lice cause a condition called pediculosis. These are mainly Pediculus humanus capitis (head lice) and Pediculus humanus corporis (wardrobe lice). Lice are kept mainly in the scalp, suck blood (pruritus) and attach eggs („nits“) to individual hairs.

Fleas
Pulex irritans.

Scabies
Scabies are caused by scabies, Sarcoptes scabiei. THe picture is an exanthemous disease with typical „corridors“ occurring mainly in areas with thin skin (interdigital, anterior axillary furrow, areola), avoiding hair, face, palms and soles of the feet. It is possible to detect obstructions microscopically. There is very intense pruritus, especially at night, and excoriation caused by scratching. The infection si transmitted through body contact or laundry.

Intestinal diseases

 * ascariasis
 * enterobiosis
 * giardiasis

Other endoparasitoses
Toxoplasmosis is caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. It is one of the infections that threatens fetal development during primary maternal infection during pregnancy (TORCH group).

related articles

 * Gastrointestinal parasitosis
 * Enterobiosis
 * Ascariasis
 * TORCH