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Oxiuros - Overview

Nombres alternativos

Enterobiasis; Oxiuriasis; Oxiurosis; Infección por oxiuros; Enterobius vermacularis; E. Vermacularis; Helmintosis

Definición:

Son pequeños gusanos que infectan los intestinos.

Causas, incidencia y factores de riesgo:

Los oxiuros son la infección por gusanos más común en los Estados Unidos y se da sobre todo en niños en edad escolar.

Los huevos de los oxiuros se diseminan directamente de una persona a otra o también se propagan por contacto con ropa de cama, alimentos u otros elementos contaminados con huevos.

Generalmente, los niños se infectan al tocar los huevos de los oxiuros inadvertidamente y llevarse luego los dedos a la boca. Los huevos son ingeridos y finalmente eclosionan en el intestino delgado. Los oxiuros maduran en el colon.

Las hembras de estos gusanos se trasladan luego hacia el área anal del niño, especialmente en la noche, y depositan más huevos. Esto puede causar prurito intenso y el área anal incluso se puede infectar. Cuando el niño se rasca el área anal que presenta prurito, los huevos pueden alojarse bajo las uñas. Los huevos pueden transferirse a otros niños, a los miembros de la familia y a elementos en el hogar.

  • Reviewed last on: 7/26/2010
  • Neil K. Kaneshiro, MD, MHA, Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

Referencias

Dent AE, Kazura JW. Enterobiasis (Enterobius Vermicularis). In: Kliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 291.

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