Angiostrongyliasis: A Comprehensive Guide

Angiostrongyliasis is an infection that is caused by roundworms in the kidney and alimentary tract. Since these round worms belong to the Angiostrongylus family, the infection is so named. In human beings this infection can result in eosinophilic meningitis and meningoencephalitis.

While you may find that most cases of Angiostrongyliasis are cured without much treatment, sometimes the infection can be too severe causing damage to the central nervous system. You may even hear of death in case of severe infection caused by too much nematode parasite.

angiostrongyliasisCauses

  • The main reason for this infection outbreak is the consumption of Giant African land snails and several types of mollusks.
  • You can also suffer from it by drinking contaminated water and eating salads that contain unwashed snails and slugs.

Symptoms

The most common and determining symptoms of Angiostrongyliasis include the following:

  • Stomach pain that does not seem to reduce
  • Vomiting tendencies
  • Nausea and weakness

End Result

While the symptoms are painful enough, the main problem starts if you do not get treated for it. The lingering effects can be:

  • Impairment of senses and delayed reaction time
  • Unconsciousness
  • Pain in the nerves
  • Problem in respiration resulting in wheezing
  • Weakness and muscle atrophy
  • Cranial nerve palsy
  • Visual impairment
  • Retinal edema
  • Keratitis

Cure

Once the doctors have diagnosed that you are suffering from Angiostrongyliasis, the treatment needs to start. Some of the options for treatment are given below.

  • A CT scan of the brain can show lesions and ventricular enlargement. This can lead to proper understanding of the problem and medication can help.
  • Lumbar puncture though a last resort can be taken into consideration. This helps to kill the worms that mostly cling to the end of the nerves.
  • Anti-helminthics and anti-inflammatories are quite effective when it comes to medicines that treat Angiostrongyliasis.
  • The anti-parasitic drugs are necessary to kill the worms that are the root cause of the infection.

Precaution and Prevention

Various Precautions that can be taken in Order to Prevent the Problem include the following:

  • Try and avoid uncooked snails and mollusks in your diet.
  • You should also avoid having any vegetables that may have been in touch with the raw food.
  • Wash your hands and utensils with proper disinfecting soap before eating and cooking.

Photo Credit By: northamericanlandsnails.com