Question

Case study: A mother brought a worm to the pediatrician that her 5yo daughter vomited into the toilet the evening before. It was about the length and thickness of a lead pencil. Her daughter had additional complaints of nausea, a slight fever, and diarrhea over the previous 10 days. The pediatrician sent a stool sample for O&P. The eggs seen in the childs stool were described as fertilized with an undeveloped embryo, having a thick chitinous yellow-brown shell, and measuing 55 x 40 microns in size. Unfertilized forms were also reported. Answer the following questions (5 points, SLO1,3,7)

1. What is the causative organism? Provide the common and scientific name.
2. Provide the identifying characteristics for the unfertilized form seen in the stool sample.
3. Tell me what other organism it is likely/possible she is co-infected with.
4. Does the causative organism cycle through the lungs during development?
5. Why are children historically more likely to fall ill with this organism than adults?

Answer 1

1. The causative organism is Ascaris lumbricoides, also known as the giant intestinal roundworm.

2. The unfertilized forms seen in the stool sample are characterized by their round shape, a smooth outer surface, and thick shell that protects them from the environment.

3. It is possible that the child is co-infected with other intestinal parasites, such as Giardia lamblia or Entamoeba histolytica.

4. No, the causative organism does not cycle through the lungs during development.

5. Children are more likely to fall ill with Ascaris lumbricoides than adults because they are more likely to ingest soil or other contaminated materials and have weaker immune systems that are less able to fight off the infection. Additionally, children may not have developed good hygiene practices yet, such as washing their hands before eating, which can increase their risk of infect